439 



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Physical Health 



And Recreation for Girls 



A HANDBOOK FOR GIRLS 
AND VOLUNTEER LEADERS 



Mary E. Moxcey 



i 

i 



OTHER BOOKS BY MISS MOXCEY 

GIRLHOOD AND CHARACTER 

LEADERSHIP OF GIRLS' ACTIVITIES 

GOOD TIMES FOR GIRLS 



Physical Health and 
Recreation for Girls 

A Handbook for Girls and Volunteer Leaders 



By 

MARY E2>StOXCEY 



THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN 
NEW YORK CINCINNATI 



< 



Copyright, 1920, by 
MARY E. MOXCEY 



g)CU604428 



DEC -4 I92C 



*W« I 



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CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface 7 

I. How to Hike Happily 9 

II. Keeping Individually Fit 16 

III. Individual Proficiency in Sports 32 

IV. Track and Field Sports 34 

V. Playground Games 44 

VI. Team Games 50 

VII. Folk Dancing 74 

Index 79 



PREFACE 

This pamphlet is designed for the practical, everyday use of 
teen-age girls and their leaders in carrying out such a program 
for physical health and recreation as is suggested in Chapter IV 
of Leadership of Girls' Activities. 

In addition to specific directions for all the games and tests 
there listed, and additional similar activities, here will be found 
a simple and intelligible standard of bodily condition and health 
habits for the normal girl. By this the individual may test 
herself, and the leader may set her goal. 

In the selection from vast quantities of useful material the 
following requirements have been held in mind: 

1. Things that girls spontaneously like to do. 

2. Things that can be done without harm to health under the 
direction of untrained leaders. 

3. Things that can be done practically anywhere with little 
or no apparatus and with the least possible expense. 

4. Things that produce definite effects in health and character. 

Most of these can be done with her girls by any woman without 
some pronounced physical defect, with pleasure and benefit to 
herself as well as to them. But even a cripple or one with a 
weak heart muscle, if she has contagious enthusiasm and will be 
with the girls even if she cannot actually play with them, can 
obtain for them priceless results they would otherwise lose. 

The illustrations and diagrams make it possible for anyone 
to follow directions successfully. Nothing has been given which 
can involve any danger to normal, healthy girls if done even 
without expert supervision. Special attention should be given 
to cautions accompanying a few of the games. 

The value of the various exercises and games is' vouched for 
by the specialists from whom they were obtained. These 
authorities, to whom grateful acknowledgement is hereby given, 
are: 

The Bureau of Social Education of the National Board of the 
Young Women's Christian Association. 

7 



8 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

The Life-Extension Institute, Inc. 

The Playground and Recreation Association of North America. 

The Girls' Branch of the Public-Schools Athletic League of 
New York City. 

Miss Clara Gregory Baer, Director of Physical Education, H. 
Sophie Newcomb Memorial College for Women, Tulane Univer- 
sity of Louisiana. 

The Author. 



HOW TO HIKE HAPPILY 1 

The one universally possible recreation is walking. But its 
first requisite is a pleasant purpose. 

Where to Go 

Do not try to go too far at first. Walk briskly but do not 
hurry. Go at a comfortable pace, remembering that to saunter 
too slowly is tiring. Three miles an hour is a safe allowance, 
and that distance is long enough for the first hike. The girls have 
to come back! In the country take the less-frequented and less- 
dusty roads and follow a stream or cut across fields (never walking 
on planted crops or treading down grain or hay; walk between 
plowed furrows or by the fence row). In the city take the pleas- 
antest streets possible to the park, the museum, the factory, or 
whatever place you have chosen to visit. In visiting a factory 
the most tiring part of the walking is in the building itself, so 
make allowance for that fact and use the street car part of the 
way if it seems wiser. 

Here are some objects for hikes. — To see what flowers are 
in blossom in a given wood the first week in April or May. To 
compare them from year to year. To see how many kinds of 
trees are in a wood or park and to be able to name them with 
and without the help of their leaves (summer and winter hikes). 
To get ferns for Children's Day or commencement. To 
learn to build a camp fire (with one match, and with none). 
To have a shore dinner or a "bacon bat" or to build a "bean 
hole" for a future picnic. To find a suitable place to take a 
group of younger children for a picnic. To see how china is 
made and decorated, or glass cut, or newspapers printed, or silk 
spun, or felt hats made. To see a loan collection of pictures in 
a library or art gallery, or an exhibit of textiles, or to understand 
a tenement or tuberculosis exhibit so as to help in a local cam- 
paign. 

What to Wear 

Clothing should be light in weight and should not remain wet 

1 See Leadership of Girls' Activities, Moxcey, page 38. 

9 



10 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

with perspiration; hence, woolen is best. Denim or khaki 
answers well. A middy blouse or a one-piece dress gives most 
freedom and is not easily torn. Bloomers should always be 
worn, with short skirts over them if in town. The hat or "fore- 
and-aft" cap should shade the eyes and the back of the neck to 
prevent burning. 
The most important item is the feet. Shoes 1 must have low, 




Which Will Carry You to Success in Life? 

broad heels ("sneakers" without heels are tiring except for short 
distances, and rubber soles cause perspiration) and should fit the 
instep snugly, leaving the toes plenty of room in both length and 
width. Never start on a long hike with new shoes, no matter 
how comfortable they may feel at first. Blisters are caused by 
holes in the stocking, large darns, too loose shoes, and perspira- 
tion. It is a good plan to carry an extra pair of stockings in the 
pocket so as to keep the feet dry by changing. Blisters may be 
relieved by applying a smooth strip of adhesive plaster consider- 
ably larger than the tender spot before putting on the stockings. 
To take off the shoes for a few minutes and massage the feet 
gently but firmly toward the ankle rests them greatly. Keep 
your feet straight ahead, Indian fashion, when walking. 1 Turn- 
ing the toes outward is tiring and causes weakened arches. 
Take short steps when climbing hills and do not "show off" by 



1 Diagrams used by permission of the Bureau of Social Eduoation, National 
Board of the Young Women's Christian Association. 



HOW TO HIKE HAPPILY 11 

getting ahead. Do not run down steep hills; a turned ankle 
punishes the rest of the company as much as the victim. 

What to Carry 

In the country a good, stout pocket knife, some string, and 
matches in a waterproof case are always useful. Compass, 
cameras, and field or opera glasses should be taken by those who 
have them. If going after wild flowers or ferns, each girl should 
have a large tin receptacle with a tight cover to keep tender things 
alive and fresh. There are tin cases made especially, but a 
covered tin pail will answer. If the objective is a picnic, the 
food supplies, tin cups, water can, paper plates, etc., should be 
divided evenly as to weight, tied in as flat parcels as possible, 
and hung over the shoulders on the back or side by straps wide 
enough not to cut. The hands should always be free. 

A Good Time on the Way 

Do not have too large a party. A dozen is a good number. 
Choose girls as nearly alike in endurance as possible and make 
the pace that of the slowest. The leader should have a whistle, 
and the girls should obey her signals instantly. Always keep 
together. Songs and jingles prevent fatigue and add amazingly 
to the good spirits of the party, besides making it easy to keep 
in step and together. How many quarters of a mile will pass 
while the party is learning to make the accent "come out right" 
on such a bit of nonsense as this! 

"Left! Left! I had a good job and I left Heft! " 
r u r u f u r u 

1 Say, do you think it was right? right! right! 

r u r . u r 

2 To leave my wife and forty-six children without any 

Johnny-cake? left! left!" 

The company may go two by two, the right-hand girls watching 
the right side of the road, the left-hand the other, to keep count 
of specified objects — such as the number or kinds of living things 
seen (ants, beetles, cats, and birds all counting) or the kinds of 
trees (or all growing green things). Such a contest becomes 
very exciting. On a new road the girls may thus divide and 

1 Accent changes to right foot. 

2 Accent changes to left foot. 



12 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

work in teams to remember landmarks, and that side will win 
which can verify the most on the return journey. 

Rest when necessary but not too frequently nor too long. 
Sitting long after being heated makes one stiff. Choose a fence 
or stump that has been in the sunshine to sit upon rather than a 
stone that is cold or a stump that is damp. The quickest and 
safest rest, where practical, is to stretch out at length on the 
ground face down — never on the back. (When one is sufficiently 
cool, and the grass is dry, lying on the back may do no harm; 
but it is better not to take the risk.) 

If the girls stop at a house for a drink or a rest, be sure they 
do not misplace any tools or implements. It is natural to pick 
up a bit of wood or iron and play with it, and, because they do 
not know it has any particular use, thoughtlessly carry it a 
distance and toss it away, causing the owner much annoyance. 

What to Eat 

Do not eat candy or munch food on the way. For thirst an 
orange or apple or a few sips at a cut lemon are better than much 
water. Chewing gum is useless and inexcusable. If the lunch 
is to be eaten as carried, sandwiches, fruit, whole tomatoes, 
cucumbers, and other vegetables in season (with a package of 
salt for sufficient "dressing") will taste best. If cakes are taken, 
let them be cookies or jumbles that will not "mess up" in the 
carrying; but sweets are not so satisfying as other things. If the 
meal is to be cooked over the fire, let the first attempt be simple; 
bacon toasted on sticks, or bacon and eggs fried in a long-handled 
pan can hardly be made uneatable. Allow plenty of time for 
baking potatoes, and experiment privately with these and with 
roasting ears until you can teach the girls with authority! Burn 
up every scrap of paper you leave, and bury all tin cans, olive 
bottles, etc. Leave the spot as attractive as you found it. Be 
sure that the fire is entirely out before you leave it. If a half 
hour of story-telling has been spent around the fire, and then the 
place tidied up, the homeward tramp may be begun without 
discomfort. Do not start out too soon after a hearty meal. 

A Night in the Open 

For the first attempt it is best to plan all details and be pre- 
pared, then to start out when the weather signs insure a perfect 



HOW TO HIKE HAPPILY 13 

night. Choose a place that is safe from marauders; and if it is 
next a pasture, be sure the bars are fast! It may be in the 
secluded back yard of the home of one of the girls, or in the 
orchard of a friendly farmer, or on the slope of a little ravine 
discovered on one of the hikes. If it is at a distance, have the 
blankets and steamer rugs taken in a wagon. If not too far, 
the girls can carry them in a "poncho roll" about their shoulders. 
(Get any soldier or Scout to show you how.) See that the place 
does not slope too much and free it from sticks and stones. If 
in the woods a bed of boughs can be built, or hammock slung 
instead. Help the girls to be alive and eager for the new sights 
and sounds and not disturbed at a little wakefulness. They will 
rest, even if in a different way. 

Living Outdoors 

Camping for a week or two is possible to many girls who have 
not thought it within their means. The easiest way is to rent 
a site already fitted with wooden shacks or tents with wooden 
floors. There is more fun and more development of resource- 
fulness and mastery when the campers take their own tent or 
tents and choose an unused place. 

The site should be dry and level, with the ground sloping 
away so that it will not stay wet after rains, and near water fit 
for drinking. Shade from the afternoon sun is desirable. Unless 
there are comfortable beds and well-cooked meals, the vacation 
will lose its value. Where cutting boughs is permissible, beds 
constructed according to the campcraft directions are delightful. 
Sacks filled with dry leaves or grass are good. A rubber poncho 
with enough blankets underneath makes sleeping on the ground 
both safe and comfortable. If canvas or spring cots are used, 
be sure they do not sag. 

Remember that girls eat more when living out of doors, so 
have plenty of supplies. It is well to be near a supply of milk 
and fresh vegetables. There should be one good camp cook to 
start with, and the opportunity for each girl to learn to cook 
well with primitive fire utensils is one of the most enjoyable 
things about camping. Have all the work systematized and fairly 
divided, taking turns so that each has her share of the fun and 
of the harder tasks. And have a regular program of the day, 
with rising, mealtime, and retiring on the minute. The laggard 



14 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

should be made to realize that she is a "slacker," selfishly spoil- 
ing the good times of the whole group. 

It is better to work out the rules with the girls, so they will not 
feel that the leader is an autocrat, but the leader must bring all 
the essential points to their attention. They can easily be led to 
see that it is absolutely essential that no one leave camp alone 
or without permission from the leader; that no one should go 
swimming or rowing outside of the hours appointed for that sport; 
and that anyone who leaves paper (which is unsightly and might 
catch fire by being blown by the wind) or garbage or empty food 
receptacles (which breed mosquitoes and attract vermin) or any 
filth (which causes disease) anywhere about the grounds is a 
"camp criminal." 

Camp sanitation admits of no carelessness. The toilet should 
be well screened and well away from the water supply. One of 
the simplest arrangements is a galvanized receptacle sliding 
into the rear of a box. The contents can be daily covered with 
lime and buried. Toilet paper should be put into a separate 
receptacle and daily burned. Dishwashing can be greatly 
simplified by decreasing the number of dishes used, by burning 
the paper plates, and by each girl's washing her own dishes. 
Sometimes it is easier to take turns at this task. Camp inspec- 
tion should cover the order of the tents, proper making of beds, 
condition of dishcloth and towels, and the greaseless polish of the 
outside as well as the inside of all cooking utensils. 

The work of the camp will take a definite time. The long 
hours remaining should be filled by definite plans. Some part 
of each day should be given to a camp enterprise: such as 
climbing to the top of a mountain or rowing or hiking to some 
special point; some part for the sports in which all engage: 
such as swimming, diving, first-aid practice, games, and lessons 
in woodcraft and nature lore; and some part for quiet reading, 
sleep, or letter writing. After supper is the time for dramatics, 
stunts, and surprises. Just before the early bedtime girls grow 
confidential and open-minded for the leader's talks and stories 
and for the discussion of the new, deep thinking that has been 
going on. Boy guests are much better invited all at one time, 
with a meal and a special hike or stunt planned for them, giving 
them plenty of time to get back to train or street car without 
upsetting the camp hours. If the camp lasts over two week- 



HOW TO HIKE HAPPILY 15 

ends, it is better to keep the last Sunday free from guests for the 
intensive friendship or lifework talks that are sure to come. 

Accidents will happen in the best-regulated camps. It is a 
good plan for the leader or one of the girls to have more than 
a theoretical knowledge of how to attend to a sprained ankle or a 
bad cut. An emergency kit of sterile cotton, surgeon's plaster, 
"dope" for insect bites and ivy poison, and some other simple 
remedies should always be among the supplies. Be sure to 
know where to find the nearest doctor and the nearest telephone 
without any loss of time. Do not camp near water unless some 
one in the party is competent to use effective methods of resus- 
citation from drowning. 

For building various kinds of fires, baking and roasting devices, 
and savory dishes for camp cooking see the manuals of the Boy 
Scouts, the Woodcraft Girls, and the Camp Fire Girls. Girls 1 
Clubs, by Miss Ferris, also has excellent suggestions, and so has 
The Boy Scout Movement Applied by the Church, Richardson and 
Loomis. 

. Camp Cookery, by Milam, Johnson, and Smith (J. K. Gill 
Company, Portland, Oregon), gives ration lists, supplies needed 
for camps in various situations, directions for building camp 
ovens and cooking fires, and plenty of daily menus and receipts. 



II 

KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 

We do much better than we did a few years ago in keeping 
up a certain minimum of health and vigor. The "lass with the 
delicate air" is no longer the fashion, and the one with too many 
days off loses her job. But too many girls still have no definite 
standard other than to "get along." 

Standard of Individual Bodily Fitness 

1. Symmetrical body. — Hips and shoulders even, spine 
without sidewise curves or exaggerated inward or outward curves, 
shoulder blades flat and even, 
neck straight with upper spine, 
ankles and arches normal and 
firm, inner side of feet touching 
a straight line from heel to tip 
of great toe, no corns or 
callouses. 

2. Habitual proper pos- 
ture. 1 — (a) Standing. — Stand 
erect with feet parallel, heels 
about six inches apart, and toes 
pointing straight forward; 
stand tall, as if being hung by 
the top of the head, and 
imagine you are pushing some 
resisting object with your 
chest. Then, without further 
effort, your chin will be in, 
chest arched forward, abdomen 
flat, neck perpendicular and 
well stretched, and arms hang- 
ing by their own weight along 
the middle line of the hips. 

(6) Sitting.— Push the lower spine well back in the chair, then 
lean back. Do not slide down in the chair. Keep the chest and 



M 



Incorrect 



Correct 



1 See footnote at end of chapter. 



16 



KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



17 




Incorrect 



Correct 



the abdomen as far apart as possible. In leaning forward bend 
from the hips, not 
from the waist or neck. 

3. Skin and 
tongue clear. 

4. Freedom from 
pain at monthly 
periods. 

5. Eyes, teeth, 
nose, and tonsils. — 
So cared for that 
headache, toothache, 
and colds are practi- 
cally unknown. 

6. Steady nerves. 
— Shown by reposeful 
hands and face, no 
grimaces or habits of 
playing with table 
silver, making idle 
marks upon books or 
tables, tapping with 
feet, etc. 

7. Habitual free 
elimination of 

waste. — At regular hours, daily without exception, and without 
the use of cathartics. 

8. Habitual deep breathing. — Tuberculosis germs are 
breathed by everybody, but there is little danger to anyone who 
uses both her lungs. When persons are too lazy or indifferent 
to use all the lung cells, physicians have to send them to a climate 
that will make them do so because the air is so much rarer they 
have to work harder to get the accustomed amount of oxygen. 

9. Sufficient sleep.— Out of doors or with windows wide open. 
The following is the minimum amount required: 

Age Average Hours a Total Hours a 

Night Week 

12-14 10 or more 70-75 

15-17 9 or more 65-70 

18-21 8^or9 60-63 

(Sleep lost one night should be made up within the week.) 




Incorrect 



Correct 



18 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 



10. Sufficient food. — Wholesome and well balanced; freedom 
from candy, soda, and coffee habits. 

11. Sufficient water. — At least six or eight glasses every day. 
12. — Daily bathing. — A morning cold shower if individually 

beneficial; if not, a cool rub with a wet towel, then brisk rubbing 
with a dry towel; at least two warm baths a week, at night. 

Daily Setting-Up Exercises for Girls in Normal Health 

The following have been chosen and adapted for the use of 
young girls from directions published by the Life-Extension 
Institute for average men and women, and by the Bureau of 
Social Education of the Young Women's Christian Association 
for young women. They should be taken in loose clothing 
(underwear or gymnasium bloomers) and with open windows. 
Breathing exercises should come first, followed by arm, leg, and 
trunk movements (alternating), ending with deep-breathing 
movements. The cold bath or wet rub-down should follow 
immediately, while the pores are open, and perspiration is free. 

1. Deep breathing. — Take correct standing position (see 
page 16). Inhale 
slowly until chest 
is expanded to its 
greatest extent (by 
the air, not by 
stiffening out the 
muscles), hold* 
then exhale as 
slowly as possible. 
Repeat five times. 
2. Arm stretch- 
ing 1 . — Stand with 
feet parallel, 6 
inches apart. 
Movement: 

(a) Raise arms 
sideways, shoul- 
der high, palms 
up; and inhale 
with mouth closed, contracting abdominal muscles. (6) Turn 
palms, lower arms, exhale. Repeat ten to twenty times. 




KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



19 



3. Windmill. 2 — Stand erect with feet about eighteen inches 
apart, arms straight 
out to sides with 
palms up. Lower left 
arm and raise right 
arm, keeping arms 
stretched out straight 
and opposite each 
other, using them like 
paddles of a windmill. 
Bring right arm over 
in front of face while 
turning body, and 
bring left arm behind. 
Keep turning arms and 
body until right hand 
touches floor at out- 
side of left foot. Then 
reverse. 





2 See footnote at end of chapter. 



20 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 



4. Or — tree swaying. 2 

— While in the standing 
position thrust the arms 
straight above the head, 
then sway from side to side, 
moving from the hips up- 
ward, the arms loosely wav- 
ing like the branches of a 
tree. 

Repeat ten to twenty 
times. 





5. Heel raising and knee 
bending. 1 — Toe sitting: 

Position, — Stand, feet parallel a 
short distance apart, hands at sides. 
Movements. — (1) 
Raise heels. 

(2) Bend knees 
deeply, keeping back 
straight. 

(3) Stretch knees. 

(4) Lower heels. 
Repeat five to ten 

times. 




KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



21 




6. Place run- 
ning. 1 — 

Position. — S t a n d 
with hands on hips. 

Movements. — (1) 
Bend left knee up 
quickly and replace, 
keeping trunk erect. 

(2) Repeat right. 

Continue alter- 
nately in quick time, 
as if running, twenty 
to forty times. 



7. Deep breathing. 1 — 

Position. — Stand with feet 18 to 36 inches apart, toes point- 
ing straight forward. 




%r 

f«* 

I 
I 





22 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

Movements. — (1) Swing arms forward upward; inhale. 

(2) Bend trunk forward downward toward floor, knees straight; 
exhale. 

(3) Raise trunk, arms still overhead; inhale. 

(4) Lower arms sideways, shoulder high, palms up; hold 
breath. 

(5) Turn palms and lower arms to side to starting position; 
exhale. 

Repeat five to ten times. 



Daily Corrective Exercises 



These are to be 
taken, in addition to 
the preceding, aa 
needed by individ- 
uals. 

For Round 
Shoulders 

1. Arm stretch- 
ing.2- 

Positio n. — Cor- 
rect standing posi- 
tion, arms stretched 
to full length, up- 
ward and in front of 
body, book in each 
hand or fists clinched. 

M o v em ent s. — 

(1) Bring arms 
back and sidewise as 
far as possible. 

(2) Swing forward 
and upward. 

Repeat ten to 
twenty times. 




KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



23 



2. Shoulder straighten- 
ing. 2 — 

Position. — Normal stand- 
ing position, with book in 
each hand. 

Movements. — (1) Lean for- 
ward with arms extended. 

(2) Straighten the trunk 
and swing arms behind hips. 

Repeat ten to twenty 
times. 

For Foot Troubles 
(All exercises should be 
done in stocking feet or bare- 
foot.) 





3. Foot circling. 1 -— 

(For weak transverse and longitudinal arches.) 
Position. — Sit with right leg crossed over left knee, toe in with 
supporting foot ; and bend up right foot. 



24 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

Movements. — (1) Circle out to right, down, in to left, and up 
to starting position. Continue five times. 

(2) Reverse starting position, with left foot circling out to 
left, down, in to right, and up to starting position. Continue 
five times. 

Repeat each exercise from forty to fifty times. 



4. Foot rolling 
outward. 1 — 

(For weak longi- 
tudinal arches.) 

Position. — Stand 
with feet parallel (A). 

Movements . — (1) 
Raise inner border up 
and out, knees straight, 
toes and heels on floor 
(B). 

(2) Replace (A). 

Repeat ten to thirty 
times, resting after 
each five. 




5. Foot rais- 
ing. 1 — 

(For weak longi- 
tudinal arches.) 

Position. — Stand 
with toes together, 
heels 3 or 4 inches 
apart. 

Movements. — (1) 
Raise feet with toes 
together, keeping 
heels on floor. 

(2) Replace. 

Repeat from ten to thirty times, resting after each five. 




KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



25 



6. Foot gripping. 1 — 

(For transverse arch.) 

Position. — (1) Sit with feet par- 
allel, and pull toes under forcibly. 

(2) Replace. 

Repeat from ten to thirty times, ( it 
resting after each time. ®* 




For Constipation. 1 

(All exercises are to be taken morning and night after empty- 
ing the bladder.) 




26 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 



7. Doubling over. — 

Position. — Sit on chair with knees bent, feet resting on oppo- 
site chair or stool 2 or 3 inches lower and 12 to 18 inches distant, 
right arm folded low across abdomen and left arm at side. 

Movements. — (1) Bend quickly forward, rounding back, press- 
ing arm into abdomen, and trying to make shoulders touch 
knees. 

Repeat, in groups of five, 
twenty-five to fifty times. 



T 



s 




i ) / f <■> A 
I A [7 



v^ . 




8. Trunk circling. 1 — 

Position. — Sit astride on chair or stool, hands resting on 
thighs, body bent forward, back flat. 

Movements. — Move trunk to left, upward to right, and down, 
making complete circle. 

Continue without stopping five times. 

Repeat circling to right. 

Repeat alternately from ten to twenty times. 

9. Abdominal contractions. 1 — 

Position. — Lie on back on floor or bed, with knees bent, feet 
resting on floor. 




KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 



27 




Movements. — (1) Inhale and lift abdomen. 
(2) Exhale and contract abdomen strongly. 
Repeat ten, twenty, or thirty times. 

10. Knee bending on back. * — 




=^ 




(a) Position. — Lie on back on floor or bed, with legs straight. 
Movements. — (1) Bend right knee quickly to chest, 

(2) Replace. 

(3) Repeat, bending left knee. 
Continue alternately ten times. 




(b) Position.— Aa in (a) but with knees bent, feet resting on 
floor or bed. 



28 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

Movements. — (1) Bend knees up to chest. 
(2) Replace. 
Repeat ten times. 




<as 




(c) Position.— As in (a), with arms folded loosely across ab- 
domen. 
Movements. — (1) Bend right knee quickly to chest. 

(2) Replace. 

(3) Repeat, bending left knee. 
Continue alternately ten times 




(d) Position. — As in (6), with arms folded loosely across ab- 
domen. 

Movements. — (1) Pull both knees forcibly to chest. 

(2) Replace. 

Repeat, in groups of five, from ten to twenty times. 



KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 29 

For Menstrual Disorders 

A perfectly healthy girl should have no pain at the menstrual 
period, though she may have some discomfort. Rheumatic 
infection from teeth or tonsils, nervousness due to lowered 
vitality or poor circulation, constipation, pelvic pressure (caused 
by wrong sitting posture or the strain of standing on high heels), 
are all frequent causes of pain at this period because they make 
the nerves more sensitive to the extra pressure due to the slight 
congestion caused by the normal menstrual function. These 
causes can and should all be removed. 

The exercises here given are beneficial to all girls because they 
tone up the abdominal nerves and muscles and help the abdomi- 
nal organs to stay in their proper positions. If after three or four 
months of carrying them out regularly and persistently a girl 
still has some pain she should have a thorough examination by 
a physician to see if there is any organic difficulty. While extra 
strain, both mental and physical, should be avoided for two or 
three days, it is better that the ordinary work and exercises go 
on as usual. Warm and thorough bathing should be more 
frequent during the period than at any other time, both for its 
soothing, relaxing effect, and because bodily odors are more 
noticeable. 




1. Knee-chest position. 1 — 

(Helpful just before and during the period.) 

Lie on bed or any flat surface face downward, with head 
turned to one side. Draw the knees well forward toward the 
chest, elevating the hips as far as possible. The arms may be 
folded or extended to suit one's comfort. Hold this position 
three to five minutes night and morning. 



30 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 




2. Knee-chest exercises on back. 2 — 

Position. — Clasp both hands, fingers interlocking, over knee, 
arms at full length. 
Movements. — Pull knee up to chest, resisting with leg. 
Repeat five to ten times with each leg. 

3, Hand kneeling. 1 — 

(Instead of body arching and body bridge in list on page 40 of 
Leadership of Girls 1 Activities.) 

Position.— -Kneel on floor, bend forward until chest touches 
knees, arms stretched forward, hands resting on floor, shoulder- 
distance apart. 




Movements. — (1) Swing body forward and down to floor, 
straightening knees and bending elbows. 

(2) Return to starting position. 

Repeat five, ten, or fifteen times. 

4. Dr. Mosher's exercise. 1 — 

(To be kept up daily before retiring.) 

Position. — Lie on back on floor or bed, with knees bent, feet 
resting on floor or bed, hand resting lightly on lower abdomen. 

Movements. — (1) Raise abdomen. 

(2) Relax abdomen. 

(3) Contract abdomen forcibly. 



KEEPING INDIVIDUALLY FIT 31 




(4) Relax. 

Repeat rhythmically, without strain or jerking, ten times. 

Keeping Up Interest 

Remember that girls are human, and what they "have to" or 
merely "ought to" do they are very apt to "hate to" do or 
leave undone. Do not urge or nag. Make a game out of it, 
with recognition for faithfulness in practice and with frequent 
enough weighings and measurings that visible progress toward 
the standard will be a strong incentive. If the leader's round 
shoulders or high hip do not get back in place as soon as the more 
plastic girls', they will all the more honor her for being a "good 
sport" and keeping on with her practice. These exercises can 
be taught, one or two at a time, and practiced in the group 
meetings, with a victrola record to keep the time and make it 
more festive. 

Not only progress but recognition of it is usually needed to keep 
up enthusiasm. Several ways are available: If the girls belong 
to a Camp Fire, a Girl-Scout Troop, or a Woodcraft League, the 
honors, proficiency badges, or coups of the national organiza- 
tion are eagerly sought. The Playground and Recreation 
Association of America has set "standards which every normal 
girl ought to be able to attain" and offers an attractive athletic 
badge for those who pass its tests. (See below — page 34 — for 
details.) The Girls' Branch of the Public-Schools Athletic 
League of several cities gives an "All-Round Athletic Medal." 
(See below — page 35 — for details.) It would be perfectly 
possible for the group to adopt the standard worked out by New 
York City, for instance, and have its local medals. 1 

1 Exercises and diagrams used by permission of the Bureau of Social Edu- 
cation, National Board of the Y. W. C. A. 

8 Exercises and diagrams used by permission of Life-Extension Institute, Inc. 



Ill 

INDIVIDUAL PROFICIENCY IN SPORTS 

The following sports are all beneficial for every normal girl, 
and few of them are harmful for anyone: 

Swimming (ought to be universal). 

Skating (ice where possible; roller out of doors only). 

Coating. 

Rowing and paddling. 

Skiing and snowshoeing. 

Bicycling. 

Semaphore signaling. 

Driving horse. 

Driving motor. 

Horseback riding. 

Rope skipping (no attempt to test endurance, such as counting). 

Archery. 

Croquet. 

Quoits. 

Golf. 

Bowling. 

Swimming is now advised rather than forbidden for weak 
hearts, for the lame, for pelvic and digestive difficulties, for the 
too thin and for the too fat; while for the perfectly healthy there 
is nothing that affords more joy. The one proviso for weak 
hearts is that the water should be warm. It is absolutely 
essential that the learner should be accompanied by someone 
who can swim. Many advantages are claimed for the Australian 
crawl stroke for women as being far more practical in case of 
capsizing in street clothing or in rescuing a drowning person, as 
providing better adapted exercise for all the muscles, and as 
much more easily learned. 

Girls should never be allowed to swim at camps except at 
the prescribed hours; at public pools and beaches unaccompanied 
by a responsible adult; or permitted to remain in the water longer 
than the temperature and their proficiency and present state of 
health make advisable. The leader, not the girl, must be the 
judge. 

32 



INDIVIDUAL PROFICIENCY IN SPORTS S3 

After a girl is an adept swimmer and has learned to handle a 
rowboat or canoe with skill she may go alone where other con- 
ditions make it advisable. Skating, coasting, roller skating, 
and the other gregarious sports are subject not so much to 
arbitrary rules as to these principles: A party of young people is 
always safer and happier with one or more friendly adults at 
hand for advice and for emergencies. If anyone can raise a 
question about the propriety of a place or of a company, it is 
better to ask an older friend to go too. The principles apply also 
to automobile parties where a young girl or boy may be compe- 
tent to drive, and to horseback and buggy and bicycle rides. 

Rope skipping has been practically unused by girls above 
the tomboy age; but short skirts or bloomers make it possible, 
and it is very desirable for its effect on the liver. A girl should 
make sure that her heart is normal: then if she never tries to 
make a record in the number of counts and is careful to bend her 
knees and to come down with a lithe spring at every step, without 
touching her heels as she lands, neither heart nor uterus will 
suffer. The skipping rope is one of the joys of childhood that 
need not be outgrown. Directions for rope jumping will be 
found on pages 117-21 of Games for the Playground, Home, School, 
and Gymnasium, by Jessie H. Bancroft (Macmillan). 

Archery and quoits aie both good to develop skill of aim 
and to exercise arms and lungs. The expense for bows and 
arrows may be shared by a number. The target — and even the 
bows and arrows — may be constructed at home. Croquet is 
hardly active enough to take the time of girls whose outdoor 
recreation is limited, though it is good for some who cannot 
stand more strenuous games. Golf is beyond the reach of most 
girls because of time or expense or both, but for those who can 
play it is excellent. Signaling by the two-arm semaphore is 
mental and physical exercise combined, adding a useful art to 
motions as muscle-developing as Swedish gymnastics. 



IV 

TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS 

From the great number of possible sports the following are 
chosen for description here because they are safe for all girls, 
can easily be carried out in any community, and include the 
items necessary to win the Athletic Badge or the All-Round 
Athletic Medal. Their requirements are: 

The Athletic Badge Test for Girls 

This test was adopted by the Playground and Recreation 
Association of America as standards that every normal girl ought 
to be able to attain: 

First Test 

All-up Indian-club race 30 seconds 

or potato race 42 seconds 

Basketball goal throwing 2 goals, 6 trials 

Balancing 24 feet, 2 trials 

Second Test 

All-up Indian-club race 28 seconds 

or potato race 39 seconds 

Basketball goal throwing 3 goals, 6 trials 

Balancing (bean-bag or book on head) 24 feet, 2 trials 

Third Test 

Running and catching 20 seconds 

Throwing for distance, basketball 42 feet 

or volleyball 44 feet 

Volleyball serving 3 in 5 trials 

There are no height, weight, or age limits in the Athletic Badge 
Tests for Girls. A girl should be permitted to practice until she 
can pass all three events in any test at one time. Any respon- 
sible adult may give the tests, but no substitution of events is 
allowed. No girl is permitted to receive more than one badge in 
any one year nor more than one badge of each order. She may 
qualify for a higher test badge without having received the first 
test badge. Any appropriate organization in good standing in 
its community may use these tests and certify on blanks furnished 
by the association the names and addresses of the girls passing 

34 



TRACK ANI? FIELD SPORTS 35 

the tests. The American Committee on Athletic Standards for 
Girls will pass on each such list; and if it is accepted, an attractive 
badge (price 20 cents) may be purchased by the local organiza- 
tion for each girl. No sample badges are sent out. It is recom- 
mended that each girl "be allowed to pay for her own badge, 
just as a young woman at college elected to Phi Beta Kappa pays 
for the key awarded." 

Complete rules and directions are published in an illustrated 
pamphlet (No. 121) : Athletic Badge Test for Girls, to be obtained 
from the Playground and Recreation Association of America, 
1 Madison Avenue, New York City. 

The All-Round Athletic Medal 

The Girls' Branch of the Public-Schools Athletic League of 
New York City awards this medal to school girls in the metrop- 
olis. Their requirements are here given as showing an admirable 
standard that might be adopted by the local group and suitably 
recognized by the local school, church, or community. 

General requirements. — A girl must be a member of a local club 
of the athletic league in her school, and to be eligible for such 
membership she must have a physician's certificate of physical 
fitness and the personal approval of the instructor in charge. 
She must be approved by the school principal as being in good 
standing both in deportment and scholarship, including work in 
physical training. A girl taking part in athletic competitions 
outside the membership or auspices of the Girls' Branch, or 
taking part in any "unsanctioned activities" (see Leadership of 
Girls 1 Activities, page 46, for list) or any athletic activities at 
which admission is charged or the general public attends is 
disqualified for membership and for winning pins. 

Specific requirements. — Each girl must have actively participated 
in at least twenty-four sessions of athletic practice during the school 
year as a member of an eligible club. She must participate in at 
least three of the activities listed below: one requiring individual 
skill, one requiring skill in teamwork, and a third to be optional. 
Individual skill must be shown in at least one of the three following 
events: 

1. Walking. — One ten-mile walk. 

2. Throwing. — Fifty-foot basketball throw, or sixty -foot 
baseball throw. 



36 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

3. Swimming. — In water shallow enough to stand in: 

(a) Push off and swim five good strokes. 

(b) Push off and float face down in the water. 

4. Team skill may be shown in at least one of the following : 
End-ball, captain-ball, punch-ball, volleyball, indoor baseball, 

pin-ball, basketball, Newcomb, field hockey. 

Optional, for the third record of personal proficiency, is one of 
these: 

Horseback riding, golf, lawn tennis, hand tennis, roller skating 
(out of doors), ice skating, bicycling, signal drill (two-arm sema- 
phore), folk dances and gymnastic dances, and the following: 

Track and field athletics: simple relay, shuttle relay, potato 
relay, hurdle relay, basketball throw, baseball throw, heavy 
gymnastics. 

It will be noted that the fundamental difference in these two 
sets of tests is that the Athletic Badge may be won by girls 
practicing by themselves, and the events are tested individually. 
The Ail-Round Medal requires only one individual test and counts 
practice, not winning, in relay and team games; hence the dif- 
ference in the all-up and potato races as here given: 

1. All-up Indian-club race 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test rules). 
— Draw two tangent circles, each 3 feet in diameter. In one of 
the circles place three one-pound Indian clubs. At a point thirty 
feet distant from a line passed through the center of the circles, 
and parallel to it, draw a line to be used as the starting line. 
On the signal the girl runs from the starting line, transfers the 
three clubs, one after the other, to the vacant circle so that they 
remain standing, and runs back to the starting line. The girl 
makes three such trips, finishing at the starting line. The girl 
is permitted to use only one hand in transferring the clubs. The 
surface within the circles should be smooth and level. A wide 
board may be used when the test is made out of doors. To 
qualify in this event for a first test badge a girl must make the 
three trips to the circle in thirty seconds; to qualify for a second 
test badge, the three trips must take not more than twenty-eight 
seconds. 

2. General instructions for relay races. 2 — Wherever space 
permits, a good, long running distance should be allowed, not to 
exceed, however, 50 yards (150 feet). 

In all relays there shall be an equal number in the competing 
teams. The start shall be given by three signals: 



TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS 37 

1. "On your mark!" (One foot forward to — not beyond — 
the starting line.) 

2. "Get ready!" (Poise forward.) 

3. "Go!" 

It is desirable that each entire club should run as one team. 

In shuttle, all-up, potato, and hurdle relays if the number is 
very large, each club may run a trial heat to pick its fastest team 
to represent the class in the final race. In these two events the 
"touching off" shall be done with the hands. While awaiting 
the touch-off a girl should toe the starting line with one foot, 
poise forward, and reach one hand directly forward as far as pos- 
sible to meet that of the approaching toucher off. No girl except 
the first runner of the team shall cross the starting line until 
touched off. A foul is counted against the team each time one 
of the members violates the rule. 

If any fouls have been committed, the winning team is deter- 
mined by adding the number of fouls committed by each team to 
the number of the order in which they finished, first place being 
given to the team whose resulting sum is lowest. For example: 

Club B. — Finished first, plus two fouls, equals three; awarded 
second place . 

Club C. — Finished second, plus no fouls, equals two; awarded 
first place. 

Club A. — Finished third, plus two fouls, equals five; awarded 
third place. 

The last runner of each team should be plainly marked with 
a broad band of a brilliant color across the chest or around one 
arm. 

3. All-up relay 2 (Girl's Branch, Public-Schools Athletic 
League). — The team shall line up side by side back of the 
starting line, each team in single file. Opposite each team 
at the end of the running space shall be two circles, 3 feet in 
diameter, side by side and tangent to each other. In one of 
these shall stand three Indian clubs. The start shall be made 
by number one of each team. Each starter shall run forward 
and, using one hand only, shall place the clubs, one at a time, 
so that they shall stand in the other circle. When this is done, 
she shall call "All up!" and, running back, touch off the girl 
standing first in the line. Should clubs fall after a player has 
left them, she shall return and set them up again before touching 



38 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

off the next runner. The player who has just run, having com- 
pleted her part of the race, shall leave the running space and not 
line up again with the runners. This play shall be repeated by 
each girl in the team until all have been touched off, when the 
last girl, after changing the clubs as did the others, shall finish 
in a dash over the line. The use of more than one hand in 
changing the clubs shall constitute a foul. 

4. Potato race 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test rules). — On a direct 
line draw four circles, each 12 inches in diameter and 5 yards 
apart from center to center. Five yards back of the center of 
the first circle and at right angles to the direct line draw a line 
to be used as a starting line. This is also the finish line. 

In the first circle place a basket or other receptacle not more 
than 2 feet high and with an opening not exceeding 1 foot in 
diameter. 

On the signal the girl runs from the starting line, takes one 
potato from the basket, places it in the first vacant circle (the 
one nearest the basket), runs back to the basket, passes between 
it and the starting line, takes the second potato from the basket, 
places it in the second circle, returns to the basket, takes the 
third potato from the basket, places it in the third circle, and 
runs back to the starting line. From the starting line she runs 
to the first circle, picks up the potato, replaces it in the basket, 
passes between the basket and the starting line, runs to the 
second circle, picks up the potato, replaces it in the basket, 
passes between the basket and the starting line, runs to the 
third circle, picks up the potato, replaces it in the basket, and 
runs across the finish line. 

If a potato is dropped anywhere but in the circle where it 
should be placed, or in the basket, it must be picked up and 
properly placed before another is touched. Wooden blocks may 
be substituted for potatoes. 

To qualify for this event for a first-test badge a girl must cross 
the finish line within forty-two seconds from the time the signal 
to start was given. To qualify for a second test badge the time 
must be within thirty-nine seconds. 

5. Potato relay 2 (Girls 9 -Branch rules). — The ground is 
marked as above (with spots instead of circles), but the recep- 
tacle is to be a box, pail, basket, or can "not over 24 inches in 
circumference at the opening." Each competing team shall be 



TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS 39 

divided in two equal parts, which shall line up in single file 
facing each other back of the starting lines, which are five yards 
back of the first and fourth spots respectively. 

Number one of each competing team shall start from the fine 
back of the receptacle and, after placing the potatoes one at a 
time upon the three remaining spots, touch off number two, who, 
starting from the line back of the fourth spot, shall replace the 
potatoes one at a time in the receptacle and then touch off 
number three. Each girl, after touching off her successor, shall 
quickly leave the running space, not lining up again with the 
team. The race continues, the runners alternately placing and 
picking up the potatoes. The finish shall be the starting line 
back of the receptacle and shall be crossed by the last runner 
in each team after her last potato has been replaced. Should 
a runner drop a potato, she shall place it in the receptacle before 
touching another potato; otherwise, a foul shall be counted 
against her team. 

6. Rules for shuttle relay 2 . — In the shuttle relay each com- 
peting team shall be divided in two equal parts, which shall line 
up in single file facing each other back of the starting lines, 
drawn at opposite ends of the running space. When the 
competing teams are arranged in this way the start shall be made 
at the usual signal by number 1 of each team, who shall run 
forward and touch off number 2 at the opposite end. Number 
2 shall run forward to touch off number 3, and so on until all 
have been touched off, when the last girl shall dash forward over 
the finish line. Each girl, after touching off the next one, will 
have finished her part of the race and shall quickly leave the 
running space and remain out of the way of the remaining 
runners. She shall not line up again with the runners. 

7. Rules for circle relay. 2 — The players stand in three or 
more divisions in single file, facing to a common center. In this 
formation they radiate like the spokes of a wheel. On a signal 
from a leader the outer player of each file faces to the right. On 
a second signal these outer players all run in a circle in the direc- 
tion in which they are facing. The object of the game is to see 
which runner will first get back to her place. The one winning 
scores one point for her line. Immediately upon the announce- 
ment of the score these runners all step to the inner end of their 
respective files, facing to the center, the files moving backward 



40 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

to make room for them. The signals are repeated, and those 
who are now at the outer end of each file face and then run, as 
did their predecessors. The line scoring the highest when all 
have run wins the game. 

8. Rules for hurdle relay. 2 — In hurdle relay the teams shall 
be lined up exactly as for shuttle relay, and the manner of running 
the race shall be the same except that there shall be from one to 
three hurdles (according to the length of the course), set up in the 
running space, to be jumped over by each contestant during her 
run. 

The distance of a hurdle from the starting or finish line shall 
be thirty feet; and if more than one hurdle is used, they shall be 
placed twenty-five feet apart — that is, when one hurdle is used, 
the running distance must be sixty feet; when two are used, the 
running distance must be eighty-five feet; when three are used, 
the distance must be one hundred and ten feet. 

Hurdles shall not be less than 18 inches nor more than 2 feet 
in height. 

Fouls. — If a runner should knock over a hurdle it shall be 
counted as a foul against her team, but she shall continue her 
run without stopping, and the hurdle shall be immediately set up 
again in place by some person not taking part in the race. 

9. Rules for pass-ball relay. 2 — The competing teams shall 
line up side by side back of the finish line, each team in a single 
file. At the signal "On your mark!" number one of each team 
shall toe the mark with both feet, and the rest of the team shall 
close up forward as far as possible without touching, at the same 
time straightening the line. At the signal "Get ready!" number 
one shall raise the ball overhead, and all the other players shall 
raise their hands. The ball shall not be touched by any other girl 
until the word "Go!" when it shall be passed backward from hand 
to hand overhead as rapidly as possible. Should the ball be 
dropped before reaching the end of the line, the girl immediately 
back of the last girl who touched the ball shall leave the line, 
pick up the ball, return, and start it back from the point where 
it left the line. When it reaches the last girl it shall be carried 
forward by her around a given mark at the opposite end of the 
running space and handed, not thrown, to the girl at the end of 
the team, who shall pass it back as before. The girl who has 
just run shall place herself at the head of the team, toeing the 



TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS 41 

mark. Playing shall be continued until the girl who was origi- 
nally number one shall be at the end of the team. When the 
ball reaches her, she shall run forward around the given mark, 
as did the others, and finish in a dash over the finish line. 

The finish line shall be a tape (strand of worsted) stretched 
parallel to the starting line and three feet back of the rear of the 
files. Should the space not admit of this, the starting line may 
be used as a finish line. The last runner in each team shall be 
plainly marked with a sash diagonally across the breast, to aid 
the judges in distinguishing her from the other runners. 

10. Rules for basketball throw 2 (Girls' Branch).— This is a 
team event. Each competing team must consist of at least ten 
girls. It is not necessary to have an even number of girls in the 
competing teams, as a class average may be taken. 

The girls in each team shall throw in rapid succession, each 
girl having only one trial unless the ball strikes some obstacle 
before touching the ground, when another trial shall be allowed. 

A 6-foot circle, not a semicircle, with a heavy line across its 
center, shall be drawn at one end of the throwing space. The 
thrower toes this line and in completing her throw shall not fall 
or step forward out of the circle in front of her. If this is done, 
her throw shall be recorded as zero so that it will count against 
the team in estimating the average. 

The throwing space shall be divided by three cross lines 
measuring from the front of the circle as follows: For each throw 
to the thirty-foot line or any point between it and the next line 
a team scores one point; to the forty-foot line or between it and 
the next, three points; to the fifty-foot line or beyond, five points. 
For girls twelve to fourteen years old the distances are : twenty- 
two feet, thirty-three feet, and forty-five feet. 

The team averaging (if the numbers are not even) or adding 
the largest score shall win first place in the event. 

11. Rules for baseball throw. 2 — This is a team event, and 
the rules are exactly the same as for the basketball throw, with 
the exception of the distances, which are: sixty feet, seventy 
feet, and eighty feet. 

12. Basketball goal throwing 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test 
rules). — The regular basketball goal may be used, or a ring 
18 inches in diameter (inside). It should be placed ten feet 
above the ground, and the inside rim should extend six inches 



42 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

from the surface to which it is attached. From a point directly 
under the goal draw a semicircle with a radius of fifteen feet for 
the throwing line. The girl may stand at any point outside of 
but touching the throwing line. The basketball used should be 
of standard size and weight. The goal may be made either by a 
clear throw or by bouncing against the backboard. To qualify 
for the first-test badge in this event a girl must make two goals 
in six trials; and for the second-test badge, three goals in six 
trials. 

13. Balancing 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test requirement). — A 
standard balance beam 12 feet long and 2 inches wide may be 
used, or a 2-by-4-inch plank, 12 feet long, set on the 2-inch side. 

There is no time limit in this event, but there should be an 
attempt to meet the requirements promptly, without haste, and 
with perfect poise. In the first test the girl starts from the 
center of the beam, walks forward to the end, without turning 
walks backward to center, turns and walks forward to the other 
end, turns and walks forward to the starting point. In the 
second test she starts from the center of the beam with a bean 
bag or book balanced in one hand and walks forward to the end, 
turns and walks forward the entire length of the balance beam, 
without turning walks backward to the starting point. Two 
trials are allowed in each test. 

14. Running and catching 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test require- 
ment). — At a distance of thirty feet from the starting line and 
parallel to it stretch a cord ten feet from the ground. On the 
signal the girl runs from the starting line, tosses a basket or 
volleyball over the cord, catches it, and runs back to the starting 
line. Three such trips are made, finishing at the starting fine. 
In case of failure to catch the ball it must be secured, tossed 
over the cord (in either direction), and caught before continuing 
the run. The starting line and the cord should both be well away 
from any wall, backstop, or other object, so that neither the 
contestant nor the ball shall touch any obstruction during the 
run. To qualify in this event for a badge the three trips must 
be made in twenty seconds. 

15. Volleyball serving 1 (Athletic-Badge-Test require- 
ment). — A volleyball net or a piece of cord shall be stretched 
at a center height eight feet across the playing space. Twenty- 
four feet distant a line shall be drawn on the floor or ground 



TRACK AND FIELD SPORTS 43 

parallel to the net. The contestant, with volleyball in hand, 
stands facing the net and toeing the line with either foot. She 
tosses the ball with one hand, as in tennis, and strikes it with the 
other hand over the net so that it shall fall within a square 10 
by 10 feet. This square shall be marked on the floor or ground 
ten feet from the net and at right angles to it. Five trials are 
allowed to make three aces. If the contestant steps forward 
over the line before the ball strikes the ground, no score is allowed, 
but it counts as one trial. 

16. A girls' field day. — Even play needs motive. The 
chance to meet other groups of girls and play together in good- 
humored competition and to have the achievements of individuals 
and groups suitably recognized is worth while in itself and keeps 
up interest. Such a play festival for all the girls of a community 
can also be a notable civic event and a real force for democracy 
and civic teamwork. The events described above, some of the 
playground games given below, and a Maypole dance and some 
other folk dances make an afternoon's program that will be 
memorable. Such an occasion would be a most appropriate 
time to award the badges or medals won by the girls through the 
year, with some appropriate patriotic ceremony. 

Every girls' organization in the community should of course 
take part: organized Sunday-school classes, school and other 
clubs, Girl Reserves, Scouts, Camp Fires, etc.; but every teen- 
age girl in the community should be invited. Those who are not 
able to enter into the practiced events may be brought into the 
games and recruited for the organized play of the following 
year. 

1 Description and rules printed by permission of the Playground and Recrea- 
tion Association of North America. 

2 Description and rules printed by permission of the Girls' Branch of the 
Public-Schools Athletic League, New York City. 



V 

PLAYGROUND GAMES 1 

The following are intended only as "samples" of the fun to 
be had in free outdoor games. Most of them can be played in a 
large room if necessary. After these have become familiar, 
every play leader ought to possess Miss Bancroft's Games for 
the Playgroundy Homey School y and Gymnasium, which is a mine 
of information for good times under all possible circumstances. 

1. Tug of war (any number of players, any age). — 
Divide the company into two equal parts, each holding half 
of a strong rope 30 or 40 feet long. It is divided by tying a hand- 
kerchief in the middle. All the players grip the rope strongly, 
holding it so that the handkerchief stands just above a half-way 
point marked with chalk upon the floor or ground. On signal 
they pull as hard as they can. That side wins which pulls and 
holds the handkerchief over on its side of the line. 

2. Three deep (any even number, a dozen or more; any 
age). — Arrange the players in a large circle, two deep, facing 
the center. Select one pair as runner and chaser. The runner 
runs around the outside of the circle and seeks refuge from the 
chaser by placing herself in front of a pair, thereby making 
"three deep." The outside one of the three is then runner and 
seeks safety by placing herself in front of another pair. The 
runner must find a place of safety before running completely 
around the circle. The chaser may touch anyone who is the 
outer one standing "three deep" or tag her while running. The 
runner then becomes the chaser, and the game continues. When 
the circle is large, two sets of runners may be going at once. 

3. Triple change (players, ten to any number). — The 
players, with the exception of three who stand in the center, form 
a circle. Those forming the circle and those in the center number 
off in threes. The players in the center call each her number, as 
"One!" "Two!" or "Three!" whereupon all of the players in 
the circle who hold that number quickly change places with each 

1 See Leadership of Girls' Activities, Moxcey, page 42. 

44 



PLAYGROUND GAMES 45 

other, the one who called the number trying to catch one as she 
runs to a new place. Any player so caught changes places with 
the caller. For instance, the center player may call "Three!" 
whereupon all the number threes in the circle must change places. 
They may do this by changing with a near neighbor or tantalize 
the one who called by running across the circle. If the first 
center player fails to get a place, the second of the center group 
calls. Should the first succeed in catching one of the other 
players, the player so caught will await her turn in the center 
until numbers two or three have each had a turn at calling before 
she calls a number. 

4. Run, sheep, run (players, four to thirty). — This is a 
kind of "I spy" or "hide and seek." One player throws a stick 
as far as possible, shouting, "Run, sheep, run!" The player who 
has previously been chosen "it" must get the stick and lean it 
against the goal. Meanwhile all the other players run away and 
hide themselves. 

While the stick is on the goal, if "it" sees any player she calls 
the player's name, throws the stick as far as possible from the 
player caught, shouts, "Run, sheep, run!" and runs to hide while 
the new "it" gets the stick and leans it against the goal. Thus, 
the game really begins anew as soon as any player is caught. 

While "it" is reaching in one direction for hidden players, 
any player may run in from another part of the field, throw the 
stick as far from "it" as possible, shouting, "Run, sheep, run!" 
and thus give all the players a chance to run farther from the 
goal and to hide themselves more securely. 

There is a more complicated form in which one party hides, 
and the other seeks, with the captain of the hiding party watching 
the seekers and warning the hiders by secret signals. (See Ban- 
croft, page 170.) 

5. Japanese Tag (players, four to sixty). — One player is 
chaser, or "it," and tries to touch or tag any one of the other 
players. The one tagged becomes the chaser. In this form of 
the game, however, whenever a player is touched or tagged she 
must place her left hand upon the spot touched, whether it is 
her back, knee, elbow, ankle, or any other part of the body, and 
in that position must chase the other players. She is relieved 
of this position only when she succeeds in tagging someone else. 
As in other tag games where there are large numbers of players, 



46 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

several players may take the part of the tagger, or "it," at the 
same time. 

6. Dodge ball (players, twenty to forty). — The players are 
divided into two equal groups. One group forms a circle. The 
larger the circle, the more sport in the game. The other group 
is scattered within the circle. 

The circle players try to hit the center players below the waist 
with a basketball, the center players dodging to avoid this. 

The ball is put into play by one of the circle players. The 
center players may stoop, jump, or resort to any means of dodging 
except leaving the ring. Any player hit at once joins the circle 
and plays with them. The ball is returned to the circle by a 
circle player's stepping in for it if it should not roll or bound 
within reach. When two center players are hit by one throw 
of the ball, only the first one hit leaves the center. The last 
player to remain in the center is considered the winner. The 
groups then change places for the next game, the center players 
becoming circle players, and the circle players going to the 
center. The game may be varied: One team may play against 
another, comparing the time each takes to put out all the opposing 
players. In this case the players that are hit do not join the 
circle. 

*j7. Pass-and-toss relay (players, eight to twelve). — The 
players stand in two or more even ranks facing sideways and 
numbered consecutively. The players at either end step one 
long pace forward of the ranks to the points marked 1 and 10 
respectively, as they are to catch the ball tossed by some other 
player. Any ball or a bean bag may be used. Number one of 
each team tries to return to her original position first. 

1 > 10 



t 



Player number one has a bean bag. At a signal for starting 
she runs toward the rear and as she runs tosses the bag to number 
ten. The line immediately moves forward one place, number two 
stepping into the place vacated by number one, who remains in 
number ten's place. As soon as number ten has caught the bag 
she takes her place in line with the rank and passes the bag to her 
next neighbor, number nine. The bag is then passed rapidly up 



PLAYGROUND GAMES 47 

the line until it is received by number three, who tosses it to 
number two. Number two, in her turn, as soon as she receives 
the bag dashes for the rear, tossing the bag as she goes to the 
player standing at 10, who in this instance will be number one. 
The line again moves up, number three now stepping out to the 
place marked 1. The play is continued until number one is back 
in her original position. The rank that first gets the bag around 
to number one after she returns to her original position wins the 
game. As soon as she gets it number one should hold the bag 
up at arm's length as a signal that her rank has completed its 
play. 

8. Watch your step (players, one or more). — Two tin 
cans with fairly large flat surfaces are necessary. Each 
player places one can upon the floor, places one foot upon it, 
and then, balancing herself, sets the other can at a distance that 
she can step. The player then lifts the can that is behind her 
and, while balancing on the other foot, places that can in front 
and goes on as before. 

9, Duck on a rock (players, five to thirty or more). — Each 
player is provided with a "duck," which may be a stone about 
the size of a baseball, or an empty tin can, or a bean bag. One 
player is chosen to set her duck upon the "rock," which may be 
either a large stone, an empty box, or, if bean bags are used, 
the top of an Indian club or a stick of stovewood. From twelve 
to twenty-five feet from the "rock," according to the space 
available and the skill of the players, a throwing line is drawn. 
The other players stand behind the throwing line and take turns 
throwing their "ducks" at the duck on the rock. 

After each throw a player must recover her duck and run back 
home behind the throwing line. While doing this the guard may 
tag her at any time after she has touched her duck where it fell. 
She may stand as long as necessary waiting for an opportunity 
to run home, but as soon as she lifts her duck or even touches it 
she may be tagged by the guard. As soon as a player is tagged 
she puts her duck upon the rock, and the former guard runs home 
with her duck; but she may in turn be tagged as soon as the new 
guard has her duck placed on the rock. If the duck is knocked 
off the rock, the guard must replace it before she can chase the 
thrower. This may give opportunity for several waiting players 
to run home. 



48 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

10. Prisoner's base (players, ten to thirty).— In good old 
England centuries ago prisoner's base was prohibited in the 
avenues of the palace at Westminster during sessions of parlia- 
ment because it "interrupted the members and others passing to 
and fro." It was then played principally by adults. 

There are several forms of this game. The following is the 
simplest and best to begin with: 

The ground is divided into two equal parts with a small base 
or prison marked off at the farther end of each division. From 
five to fifteen players guard each side. 

The players try to capture the enemy, to rescue their own men 
who have been taken prisoners, and to enter the opponents' 
prison when there are no prisoners there. 

The players venture into the enemy's ground and if caught 
are put into prison, where they must remain until tagged by one of 
their own side who is free. Both prisoners and rescuer may be 
tagged and brought back to prison before reaching their own 
ground. The player first to venture into the enemy's territory 
is pursued by her opponents. 

The game is won when one side makes prisoners of all of the 
opponents, or when a free "man" voluntarily enters the oppo- 
nents' prison; but this last may be done only when there are no 
prisoners there. 

The prisoners taken by each side may be tallied for final score. 
The game is most successful when played by small groups. It 
must always be played informally and with as much freedom and 
imagination as possible. 

(For the more complicated forms see Bancroft, pages 158-63.) 

11. Last couple out (players, eleven to thirty- one). — One 
is chosen for catcher, who stands at one end of the playground 
with her back to the other players. The other players stand in 
couples in a long line behind her, facing in the same direction that 
she does. The catcher should be not less than ten feet in front of 
the first couple. 

The catcher calls, "Last couple out!" when the last pair in the 
line run toward the front, the right-hand one on the right side of 
the double line, and the left-hand one on the left side, and try to 
join hands in front of the catcher. The catcher may not chase 
them before they are in line with her and may not turn her head 
to see when or from where the runners are coming. They should 



PLAYGROUND GAMES 49 

try to gain their end by varying the method of approach, some- 
times both circling far out beyond her on either side, or one of 
them doing this and the other running in close toward the lines. 

If the catcher succeeds in catching one of the players before 
that player can clasp hands with her partner, these two, catcher 
and caught, form a couple and take their place at the head of the 
line, which should move backward one place to make room for 
them, and the other player of the running couple becomes catcher. 
If neither is caught, they are free — that is, out of the game. 

12. East and west (any number, indoors or outdoors). — 
Two girls are chosen captains — one for east, the other for west — 
and these two captains choose alternately until all the girls are 
chosen. The sides line up facing each other, each line parallel to 
the other, fifty feet apart. One girl from east (or west) walks 
across the opposite side and stands with hands outstretched. 
This girl passes her hand over each outstretched hand of her 
opponents. She may go down the line more than once if she 
cares to; but when she slaps a hand, that person immediately 
tries to catch her before she can reach her own side in safety. If 
the east (or west) girl is caught, she returns to the side of her 
opponents; otherwise, she stays with her own side. In either 
case the girl who chased her becomes the slapper and proceeds 
on east's side as the first girl had at west's side. The side catching 
all its opponents first wins. 



VI 
TEAM GAMES 1 

"Every girl should learn to give and take, to accept defeat and 
hard knocks without crying and having her feelings hurt or 
becoming tragic over it. . . . To learn during these precious years 
to be a good teammate and a good comrade is for any girl an 
educational experience that will bear fruit through her whole 
life and in more than one relation. . . . The better the civic sense 
is developed in them, the better citizens they will be, and the 
better influence they will exert. Women have lacked skill in 
fulfilling the wider and less personal relations. Their loyalty is 
apt to be narrow, rigid, too much attached to particular indi- 
viduals and particular forms. It needs training to hold to the 
ideal image of a social body while remaining open-minded as to 
the means of realizing it, in seeing the cause as something greater 
than the leader, the essence as more enduring than the form. 
To see your personal choice for captain put aside and yet play the 
game with your whole heart, to find merit even in your opponent 
and especially in your rival for influence within your own team, 
to learn that there are other heroes and other causes beside your 
own, are lessons that would not be thrown away upon the aver- 
age woman and that can be learned nowhere so thoroughly as in 
team play during the team-play age." (Joseph Lee in Play in 
Education, pages 392, 401, 402.) 

Good sportsmanship is not learned unless it is taught, and it 
can be taught to any normal person. The best method of teach- 
ing it is by inculcating habits of: 

1. Always playing according to the definite, printed rules 
of the game. 

2. Never questioning the decision of an official. 

3. Putting one's whole self into the game and playing for the 
game's sake but never doing anything underhanded or ungen- 
erous to win. 

4. Losing with good spirit; cheering for the opponent's good 
plays and victory. 

5. Giving generous cheers to a defeated opponent. 

^ee Leadership of Girls* Activities, Moxcey, pages 42-3. 

50 



TEAM GAMES 51 

1. End ball. 1 — This game is used as a preparation for captain 
ball. The practice it gives in throwing, catching, guarding, 
scoring, the observance of rules, and the attention to fouls makes 
it an admirable training for the more complicated game and 
should be used as a preparation for it. 

The ball used is an ordinary leather basketball. 

The ground is not invariable in dimensions. A space measuring 
30 by 30 feet is sufficient for the game and the usual size, though 
a larger space may be used for a very large number of players. 
This space shall be outlined and then divided across the center 
by a straight line from side to side. At either end a narrow goal 
strip 3 feet wide shall be made by drawing a second line parallel 
to the end line. 

For all match games clubs should agree on the dimensions of 
the field, and all preliminary practice should be on the same- 
sized field. 

The players shall be divided into two equal teams. One third 
of the players of each team shall be basemen and take their 
places within the goal at one end of the ground; the rest of the 
team shall be guards and stand in the large territory in front of 
the goal on the opposite side of the ground. No regular arrange- 
ment for the players is required, but they should scatter over 
the field so as not to leave unguarded spaces. 

The object of the game is for the guards on one side to throw the 
ball over the heads of the guards on the opposite side to their 
own basemen at the end of the opposite field. Each such ball 
caught by a baseman shall score one point for the side catching it. 

The object of the intervening guards is to intercept the ball 
before it can reach the basemen at their rear and to throw it in 
turn, over the heads of the intervening opponents, to their own 
basemen at the rear of the opposite court. 

The game is started by a referee (usually the teacher), who puts 
the ball into play in the center of the field. This is done by 
tossing it upward between two opposing guards, each of whom 
shall try to catch it. The one whose hands touch it first shall 
be the possessor of the ball. The guards shall step forward in 
rotation to try for the ball whenever it is put in play, so that each 
guard may have an opportunity. 

1 Rules and diagrams used by permission of Girls' Branch, Public-Schools 
Athletic League, New York City. 



52 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

The ball shall thus be put in play after every scoring catch by a 
baseman. When a goal is not made, the ball shall remain in play. 
Should a ball roll or be thrown beyond the rear boundary line, 
the baseman nearest the ball shall leave her base to get it, bring 
it within the line at the point where it passed out, and from there 
throw it to one of the guards of her team at the opposite court. 
A ball that goes over the sidelines shall similarly be gotten by 
the guard nearest where it left the field. 

Score. — The ball shall score one point for a team whenever 
caught by a baseman from a throw from her own guards or 
whenever a baseman gets possession of the ball by its rolling into 
her territory. 

The game shall be played in two halves of fifteen minutes each 
(for beginners the half may be ten minutes, until endurance is 
acquired). There shall be a rest of from three to five minutes 
between halves. At the beginning of the new half the players 
shall change goals. 

That team wins which has the highest score at the end of the 
second half. 

Fouls. — It shall be a foul for any player to step outside of 
her assigned territory, either over the sidelines or into her oppo- 
nent's court. A ball so caught shall not score, and the foul shall 
be punished by the ball being given to the nearest player of the 
opposing team, who shall immediately put it in play by a throw 
to her own basemen or guards. This rule of overstepping terri- 
tory shall apply to both guards and basemen and for one foot or 
both. 

It shall be a foul to carry the ball — that is, to take more than 
one step with it. 

It shall be a foul to touch the ball while it is in the hands of 
another player. 

It shall be a foul to hold or push another player. 

A foul shall be punished by the loss of the ball, which shall 
be given to a guard of the opposing team for a free (unobstructed) 
throw. 

2. Captain ball. 1 — The ball to be used is an ordinary leather 
basketball. 

The ground shall be divided by a neutral strip 3 feet wide, in 

1 Rules and diagrams used by permission of Girls' Branch, Public-Schools 
Athletic League, New York City. 



TEAM GAMES 53 

which the ball shall be put in play. To enter the neutral strip 
at other times shall constitute a foul. 

On each side of the neutral strip a series of small bases shall 
be drawn in number equal to one fourth of the entire number of 
players. These bases shall be in the form of a circle 2 feet in 
diameter or they may be square, measuring 2 feet. 

The series of bases on each side shall outline the arc of a 
circle open to the center, with one base in the middle for the 
captain. The bases in the outer circle shall be not closer than six 
feet to each other or to the neutral strip separating the fields and 
not nearer than ten feet to the captain's base. 

Any even number up to forty may play the game. The players 
of a club shall be divided into two equal teams; each team in 
turn shall be equally divided between basemen and guards, the 
captain being a baseman. 

The basemen shall take their places in the bases on one side 
of the field, and the guards of the same team shall stand near the 
opponents' bases on the opposite side of the field. 

The game shall be played in two halves. For the second half 
the teams shall change sides, and the basemen and guards of each 
team shall exchange places, basemen becoming guards, and vice 
versa. For match games a club shall be represented by a picked 
team. 

The game shall be in charge of a referee, who shall call score 
and fouls and put the ball in play at the close of each scoring 
play and after each foul. 

The referee may be assisted by an umpire and inspectors if 
desired, but for other than match games this is not necessary. 



64 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

®A A A® 



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A 




Neutral Strip 3 Feet wide 






® B J IB 



B 

2 • Foot Circle 






i *Vfli 



to 



GROUND PLAN FOR CAPTAIN BALL 



TEAM GAMES 55 

The main object of the game is for the basemen of a team to pass 
the ball from one to another, each pass successfully made scoring 
for the team, as described under "score." 

The object of the guards is to intercept the passage of the ball 
and send it back to their own baseman for similar play. 

Rules. — The game shall be played in two halves of fifteen 
minutes each, with a five-minute rest between, except at final 
meets, where halves may be shortened to six minutes if desired. 

Guards may move around freely on their own half of the 
ground, but each should be responsible for guarding one partic- 
ular baseman. Guards may not step within bases. 

Guards may not enter the neutral strip except when called 
there in rotation, as explained under "Start," to put the ball in 
play. 

The play of the ball need not be in consecutive order from 
base to base but may zigzag across the circle. It ceases to score 
when caught twice by the same baseman during a given play or 
when caught by the captain. That is, the second catch of a 
baseman does not score; the captain's catch does score, but that 
ends the play. 

Start— The ball shall be put in play by the referee, who shall 
toes it up in the center of the neutral strip between two guards, 
one from each team, who shall try to catch it. To touch the 
ball shall not give the guard possession of it; it must be held in 
both hands. In case of dispute the referee shall again toss the 
ball. 

Guards shall be called in regular succession to the neutral 
strip to put the ball in play. The two called shall be from similar 
positions on opposite sides of the field. 

The guards shall return to their home fields when one has 
obtained the ball, the one having the ball putting it in play from 
her own field. 

The ball shall be put in play at the beginning of each half, 
after each scoring play, and after each foul. 

Score. — One point shall be scored for a team whenever one 
of its basemen catches a ball thrown by any other of its basemen 
than the captain. When the entire succession of outer basemen 
have thus caught the ball, whether in regular rotation or not, 
two extra points shall be scored; thus, with five basemen six 
points would be scored for such a play. 



56 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

Two points additional shall be scored when such a play ends 
with a successful throw to the captain. With five outer bases 
this would mean a score of eight points. One point is scored for 
a team for each foul committed by its opponents. 

Under all other circumstances one point shall be scored when- 
ever the captain catches the ball from a baseman of her team. 

No score shall be made on a catch by a baseman or captain 
from a guard. 

One point shall be scored for the opponents whenever a foul 
is made, and the ball shall then be put in play again from the 
center. 

The ball shall cease to score: 

1. After being caught by the captain (the captain's catch 
scores) ; 

2. When it gets to the hands of a baseman who has previously 
had it in the same play (this second catch does not score); 

3. When it gets to the hands of an opponent; 

4. When a foul is committed. 

Fouls. — It shall be a foul to carry the ball — that is, to take 
more than one step with it — ; 

To hold it longer than time enough to turn around quickly, or 
three seconds; 

To touch the ball in any way while it is in the hands of any 
other player; 

To touch or trip an opponent; 

For guards to step into the neutral strip or the opponents , 
territory; 

For a baseman to step out of her base with more than one foot 
at a time or for a guard to step within a base in any way. 

Penalty. — One point shall be scored for the opponents when- 
ever a foul is committed. 

3. Punch ball. 1 — The ball. — Lightweight basketball, pre- 
ferably a canvas basketball. 

The ground is a diamond similar to the baseball diamond, 
square in shape and measuring from 30 to 40 feet on each side. 
A larger or smaller space may be used as available. At each of 
the four points of the diamond a base 1 foot square shall be marked 
out, except in the case of the home plate, where a semicircle 3 



1 Rules and diagrams used by permission of Girls' Branch, Public-Schools 
Athletic League, New York City. 



TEAM GAMES 57 

feet in diameter shall be marked out. A line shall be drawn from 
the home plate to first base and extending beyond it on the 
right-hand side of the diamond and from the home plate to third 
base and extending beyond it on the left-hand side of the diamond. 
These lines constitute the foul lines. 

Players, — The players shall be divided into two equal teams. 
Any number from six to twelve may play on each team. One 
team shall be in the field while the other team is at bat. The 
players shall have a batting order — that is, shall be numbered 
off as one, two, three, etc., the catcher being number one. The 
players shall always bat in consecutive order; that is, if number 
five is the last at bat in a given inning, number six shall be the 
first at bat in the next inning of that team. The team at bat 
shall stand to one side of home plate, out of the way of the run- 
ners and catcher, while waiting to bat. The players in the field, 
with the exception of the catcher, shall spread out to cover the 
field. Crosses may be marked on the diamond to indicate the 
location of each player; but this does not mean that the player 
shall not move about. The catcher stands close to the home 
plate. The game shall be started by a command from the 
referee to "play ball." The catcher, who is then holding the 
ball, shall toss it to the first batter on the opposing team. The 
first batter on the opposing team shall stand on the home plate 
and shall bat the ball with her closed fist, hit it into the field, and 
run to first base. 

Object of the game. — The object of the batter is to hit the ball 
into the field in such a way that it may not be caught by the 
fielders and to run to first base. The object of the fielders is to 
return the ball to their catcher, who shall stand on the home 
plate and hold the ball before the batter reaches first base. If 
the fielders muff the ball and are slow in returning it to home 
plate, the batter who has reached first may continue on to 
second or third base or as far as in her judgment she can get 
before the ball reaches home plate. The player running the bases 
may always advance a base whenever the opportunity occurs, 
and the ball is in play. The final object of the player running 
to the bases is to touch each base and to reach the home plate 
without being put out, thus scoring one run for her side. 

An inning. — An inning consists in each team's having a turn 
at bat. When each team has been at the bat nine times, nine 



58 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 



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Innings 


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2 


3 


4 


5 


6 


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PUNCH BALL DIAMON& 



TEAM GAMES 59 

innings shall have been completed, and the game ended. The 
score at the end of these innings is the final score for the game 
except in case of a tie at the end of the ninth. In this case the 
game continues until one team, at the end of one or more innings, 
has scored against the other. Each inning lasts until each 
team in turn has made three outs and has been retired. When 
the first team batting has made three outs it goes into the field, 
and the team that has been in the field takes its place at bat. 

An out. — The player is out (1) if the ball is returned to the 
home plate before she reaches first base; (2) if the ball she bats 
is caught on the fly — that is, if the ball is caught by the fielders 
before it touches the ground — ; (3) if she at any time is off base 
when the ball is in play, and the catcher is able to hold the ball 
with one foot on the home plate and call her name; (4) if in 
running the bases she neglects to touch each base; (5) if she 
fails to accept a chance to run to next base, causing two players 
to be caught on one base. 

In scoring an out the catcher shall stand with at least one 
foot on the home plate and with the ball in her hands. 

A fly ball. — If, when the ball is hit out by a batter, any player 
in the field catches it before it touches the ground, the ball shall 
have been caught on the fly, the ball shall be out of play, the 
batter shall be out, and any player running between bases shall 
return to the base she was on before the ball was batted. 

A foul. — If when the ball is batted it falls outside the foul line, 
stretching from home plate through first base or from home 
plate through third base, the ball is foul and is out of play; the 
batter receives another chance and is allowed to try until she 
hits a fair ball. Any player running between bases shall return 
to the base she held before the foul was made. 

Score. — When a player has successfully run from base to base — 
first, second, third, and reaches home plate — she has made a run 
and scored one for her side. At the end of each inning the number 
of runs made in that inning shall be marked upon a scoreboard. 

4. Volleyball (ten to thirty players). — This requires the out- 
lay of some dollars for a volleyball (which may be used in many 
of the other team and playground games) and either a net or a 
rope. An old tennis net or a clothesline may be donated from 
some source to save this part of the expense. The game has 
many advantages: "Eyes, head, and chest are all uplifted because 



60 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

the ball is constantly flying in the air. The players strike 
upward; they run, jump, turn about, hit hard, and use all their 
muscles snappily. It calls for individual skill and team organi- 
zation, yet unskilled youngsters enjoy it, and it draws them on 
steadily toward greater physical efficiency." 

For large teams this game should be played on a ground 
measuring 50 feet long and 25 feet wide. A tennis net or a net 
2 feet wide is stretched across the center of the ground, from 
side to side, extending one or two feet beyond the boundary 
on either side. The upper edge or the rope should be from 6 
feet 6 inches to 7 feet 6 inches above the ground. 

The players are evenly divided into two teams. They scatter 
over their respective courts without special arrangement. There 
is a captain for each side. An umpire is desirable. 

Each team tries to keep the ball in lively play toward its 
opponents' court, as each team scores only on its opponents' 
failures to return the ball or keep it in the air. 

The ball is put in play by being served by a selected member 
of either team, who should stand at the rear of her court with one 
foot on the rear boundary line and the other behind the line. 
From this position the ball is tossed upward lightly from one 
hand and batted with the open palm of the other hand over the net 
into the opponents' court. The server has two trials. A 
served ball may be assisted on its course by any other player on 
the server's side, who must use one or both hands (open palm). 
No player so assisting the ball on the serve may strike it more 
than twice in succession, and the server under such circumstances 
may not strike it more than once; but should the ball then fail 
to land in the opponents' court, the server loses her second serve. 
When served, the ball must be batted at least ten feet by the 
server before being touched by any other player on his side. 
If a return ball hits a player on the server's side and bounces into 
the opponents' court it is considered in play. The players on a 
side take turns in serving. A ball that bounds back into the 
court after striking any other object except the floor or ceiling 
is still in play. 

In sending the ball across the net players should aim for an 
unprotected part of the opponents' court or try in other ways to 
place them at a disadvantage. 

The service changes to opposite side when: 



TEAM GAMES 61 

1. The serving side allows the ball to touch the floor; 

2. The serving side knocks it out of bounds; 

3. The serving side fails to return it to the opponents; 

4. The ball hits the net during service; 

5. A served ball falls outside the opponents 1 court; 

6. A player on the serving side touches the net at any time. 

The game consists of twenty-one points. Only the serving 
side scores. 
One point is scored: 

1. When a good serve is unreturned; 

2. Any time when the opponents fail to return a ball that 
is in play; 

3. When the receiving side touches the net. 

(Failure of the serving side to return a ball to the opponents* 
court merely puts them out. The serve passes to the opponents, 
and no score is made.) 

Scoring on fouls. — 

1. Touching the net by a player on the receiving side allows 
the serving side one point. 

2. A ball sent under the net counts one for the opposing side. 

3. If the ball strikes any object outside the court and bounds 
back, although it is still in play, it counts one for the opposing 
side. A ball sent out of bounds in returning a service scores 
one point for the opposing team. One point is scored for the 
opponents whenever a player catches the ball or holds it for 
even an instant. 

5. Indoor baseball. — No one needs to be told how to play 
baseball! This game (which should be played out of doors 
despite its name) differs from ordinary baseball in four ways: 

1. A big, soft ball is used. (The athletic-goods stores call it 
a playground ball.) 

2. The diamond is not more than 27 feet between bases, be- 
cause the ball cannot be batted far. 

3. The pitcher must toss, not throw, the ball — that is, throw 
it underhand. 

4. A base runner must keep one foot on her base until she 
starts to run to next base. 

This modified form of baseball is far safer for girls than basket- 
ball, as it does not overstrain the player's heart or other organs. 
Sometimes girls play this game without a bat, striking with the 
open palm. 



62 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

6. Pin ball. 1 — As this is to lead to basketball and take the 
place of it out of doors, the fouls and rules are the same. As 
many players as can conveniently play without interfering with 
each other can be used. The larger the space, the more players. 
Ten or twelve on a side is a good number. 

The field is divided in half. Stepping across the line, as in 
basketball, is a foul. A foul gives one point to the opposite side. 

There are two centers who jump for the ball after it has been 
thrown up. A circle about 4 feet in diameter is drawn about 
half way back from the center line, and in the center is placed 
a heavy club. A guard is stationed outside the circle, and 
anyone stepping inside the circle makes a foul. The players 
are distributed around the field, each having a guard. 

The ball is put in play by being thrown up between the two 
Jumping centers, who bat it across the field. The guard for the 
club corresponds to the center in color because the center tries 
to bat the ball to the opponents' club. 

A goal counting two points is made whenever the club is 
struck down by the ball thrown by some one of the opposite 
team. If the club falls down because it is run up against, it 
counts one point for the opposite side. 

The rules for guarding should be followed essentially as in 
basketball. 

The ball is put in play after each goal of two points is scored. 

7. Basketball.— This game is strenuous and exciting and an 
excellent one for girls who have no weakness of heart or pelvis. 
Permission to play it should never be granted without a physi- 
cian's certificate specifying fitness for the game. Remember 
that it is considered a doubtful game for girls under fifteen. 
(See Leadership of Girls' Activities, page 46, note.) It should 
always be played under the supervision of a responsible woman. 
For rules consult Spalding's Official Women's Basketball Guide. 

8. Newcomb. — This game originated in Newcomb College, 
New Orleans, as a variation of basketball. It is planned to 
eliminate the dangers of collisions, bruises, strains, and over- 
taxing, to develop movement habits that are graceful and free, 
and to promote alertness and vigor. The rules and diagrams 
are published here through the courtesy of the inventor of the 

1 Rules used by permission of Girls' Branch Public-Schools Athletic 
League, New York City. 



TEAM GAMES 



63 



game, Miss Clara Gregory Baer. Full rules to govern match 
games, valuable hints to teachers and players, and photographs 
of the various positions will be found in the official Newcomb 
College Basketball Guide for Women, published by Tulane Univer- 
sity of Louisiana, 1919. 





12x12 ft. 
Forward 

(B) 

Goal 




Left Forwar 
Guard 


D 


Right Forward 
Guard 


CENTER 


30x23 ft. 

Left Backwab 
Guard 


D 


Right Backwabd 
Guard 




12x12 ft. 
Backward 

(B) 

Goal 





■ 46 it. • 



DIAGRAM OF FIELD 



64 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

The field. — The official game calls for a smooth gymnasium 
or outdoor space 76 by 46 feet. The chief requirement is that it 
shall be free from any obstruction. The field is divided by means 
of lines; painted if indoor, or marked off by line if outdoor, into 
seven spaces, as follows: one center, 16 by 46 feet; four guards, 
23 by 30 feet; two goals, 12 by 12 feet. (See diagram.) When 
space permits, spectators should not be allowed within six feet 
of the boundary lines. 

Equipment. — In each goal space there shall be a post 10 feet 
high made of wood 6 by 6 inches or iron piping 3 inches in di- 
ameter and firmly fixed in the ground. (A cement foundation, 
or bed, is of service in securing this as well as in aiding to pre- 
serve the wood if wood is used.) The post shall be placed midway 
between the side boundaries and 14 inches nearer to the outer 
than the inner boundary; or so placed that the basket shall be 
suspended above the center of the goal space. 

To each post shall be attached a basket, made of heavy net 
cord, suspended from an iron hoop, or ring. The inside diameter 
of the ring shall be 16 inches. The basket shall be 10 feet from 
the ground, and the near rim of the ring shall project 6 inches 
from the post. This will make the center of the basket fall 
above the center of the goal space, with the basket directed 
toward the field. 

No backstops are used. The basket shall be free to be aimed 
at from any part of the field. When the wall is used to support 
the basket, the latter is held by a bracket of wood or metal, 
which shall extend 6 feet from the wall, so that the basket shall 
be suspended above the center of the goal space. 

The ball is spherical. Its circumference shall be not less than 
30 nor more than 32 inches. It shall have an inside rubber 
bladder covered with leather and shall weigh not less than 20 
ounces nor more than 23 ounces. In match games each team 
shall furnish the ball for one half of the game, and none but 
accredited persons shall have use of the balls. 

The team. — Each team shall have seven players: one center, 
four guards, two goals. The players take their names from the 
positions they occupy on the field. There should be substitutes 
on the field prepared to play. 

The captain is the head of the team and is its representative. 
She decides the position of the players on the team and must 



TEAM GAMES 



65 



make known her identity to the opposing team and to the referee 
and furnish the scorer with the list of her players with their 
positions. She shall select and place substitutes when the 
occasion requires and shall be sole spokesman in addressing the 



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66 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

officials. She may change the position of her players only 
between the halves or when compelled to put in a substitute. 

The game. — (a) The captains shall decide which team shall 
start in possession of the forward and which of the backward 
goal. The centers shall then stand with the forward foot touch- 
ing the intersection of center with the line dividing the guards 
and on the side opposite their respective goals. (See diagram 
"Positions.") 

(6) When the referee blows the whistle for the game to begin, 
the umpire, standing on the side boundary line midway between 
the centers, throws the ball forward between the oncoming 
centers at about chest height. The center shall catch the ball 
or prevent her opponent from catching it by batting it toward 
her goal. 

(c) Should two players automatically claim the ball by holding 
their hands on it, the ball is a "held ball." The referee shall 
announce who is the rightful claimant and if in doubt shall 
toss up the ball between the contesting players. In the case of 
the original ball thrown in to the centers at the beginning of each 
play the umpire shall decide this point. 

(d) When the ball has been caught or stopped, all players stop 
short wherever they may be standing. The idea is that players 
shall move only while the ball is in motion. It is essential to good 
playing, therefore, that one should decide and act quickly in the 
matter of getting into favorable positions. 

(e) When one center or the other has gained the ball she shall 
throw it in the direction of her goal to the player on her team 
who is in the most advantageous position. In passing the ball 
a player is allowed two seconds (about four counts); she must 
use only one hand and must throw the ball from the spot at 
which it was stopped. If a player falls down with the ball in 
her possession she shall get up as quickly as possible and pass 
the ball as usual, for the ball may not be rolled, kicked, or bounced 
along. Two-handed passing is permissible only when two players 
are so near to each other that the ball is practically handed from 
one to the other. In passing the ball a player is entitled to 
freedom from any interference while she has possession of the 
ball. 

(/) When a player receives the ball from center, as intended, 
she decides immediately whether she is in a position from which 



TEAM GAMES 67 

she is likely to be able to put the ball into the basket. If she is 
not she should pass the ball to another member of her team who 
is in better position. If the latter is in suitable position, she 
should aim for the basket. In aiming the ball should be held 
high in line of vision, one hand only being used. The time 
allowed for the aim is four seconds (about eight counts), and 
the ball may not be intercepted in any manner on its way to the 
basket. The player is allowed to take one step, either forward or 
backward, in getting into position for the aim. 

(g) If the ball falls into the basket and does not bounce out, 
the player is said to have "made the basket," and her team 
scores. A basket from goal counts one point, from guard two points, 
from center three points. 

(h) If the player "misses the basket," whoever catches the 
ball has possession of it; if another member of the same team 
gets the ball, she should aim for the basket or pass the ball to a 
player on her team who is in better position. A player who has 
missed a basket may not aim again until the ball has been put 
into general play — that is, passed toward or played by another 
player on either team. 

(i) During the playing described above it is the purpose of the 
opposing team to prevent the ball from reaching the players as 
intended and to try to gain possession of the ball, that they may 
pass it into their own territory in order that their team at the 
opposite end of the field may aim for their home basket. If a 
player throws a ball into her opponents 7 basket, the points shall 
count for the opponents. 

(j) When one team or the other has succeeded in making a 
basket, the ball is passed back to the umpire; the teams change 
ownership of goals; the centers stand, as previously described, 
on the side opposite their respective goals; the umpire blows the 
whistle and throws the ball to the centers just as at the begin- 
ning of the game; and the same plan of play goes on. This 
procedure, with the constant alternation of goals, is continued 
until the time agreed upon for the first half is over. 

(k) In resuming play after the intermission the teams retain 
possession of the goals they had when the whistle was blown for 
the close of the first half. If, however, a ball is in the air when 
the whistle is blown and the basket is scored, the result is counted, 
and the goals change. 



68 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

(Z) If, in the course of play, a ball is in any manner caused 
to go beyond the boundaries of the court, it is an "out ball." The 
umpire shall decide promptly which team touched the ball last 
before it left the court and shall award the ball to the opposing 
team. A member of the opposing team who stands nearest the 
line from which the ball passed out of the court shall step out 
and get the ball. She shall as quickly as possible bring it back 
to a distance of not less than three feet from the boundary line, stop 
short, and throw the ball to the player on her team who is in the 
most advantageous position. She shall then speedily resume 
her regular position, and the play continues as usual. A ball 
that is caught by a player while out of bounds is an "out ball" 
and is forfeited as such. 

(m) Except when authorized to step out of bounds for an "out 
ball" a player must rigidly observe the boundary lines. Each 
player must keep within the bounds of the space in which she 
had been selected to play. 

(n) Except for a captain's addressing officials there shall be no 
talking by any players nor any audible signals given. 

(o) Violation of any of the foregoing rules of the game con- 
stitutes a foul. Fouls, like points, are indicated on the score 
board. At the end of each half the fouls made by the two teams 
are balanced, and the difference, if any, is added as points to the 
score of the team making the fewer fouls. Each excess foul is in 
effect one point for the opponents. 

(p) At the end of the second half the team that has scored the 
greater number of points in baskets, or baskets plus excess fouls, 
wins the game. 

A summary of fouls. — 1. The fouls for which a player may 
be disqualified — that is, refused the right to continue to play 
the game — are: 

(a) Causing another player to fall by tripping or pushing her 
or other needlessly rough playing. 

(6) Intentional delay or disturbance of the game, 
(c) Criticism of officials. 

2. General fouls are those which do not disqualify a player 
unless they are repeated intentionally or persistently after the 
referee has given the player warning. They are: 

(a) Moving when the ball is not in motion; also, running before 
the whistle is blown for the ball to be thrown into the center. 



TEAM GAMES 69 

(6) Running with the ball. 

(c) Having the feet on or over the boundary lines. This 
includes jumping over the corner of goal. 

(d) Rolling, kicking, or dribbling the ball, or stopping it with 
the feet. 

(e) Taking rriore than the allotted time in passing the ball or 
in aiming. 

(/) Taking more than one step in getting position for aiming. 

(g) Taking position as though to aim for basket and then 
changing the play. 

(h) Leaning on or shaking the goal post when a player is 
aiming for the basket. 

(i) Using two hands in aiming or passing (except as specified 
under "The game"). 

(j) Taking the ball from another player's grasp when her right 
to the ball has been established. In this case, besides the pen- 
alty of a foul, the ball is returned to the original possessor. 

(k) Interfering with the free pass or aim of another player 
or any other form of guarding. In the case of an "out ball," 
where the court permits, the player shall stand at least three feet 
away from the boundary line to throw in the ball. If she does not 
avail herself of this privilege, the ball may be intercepted by her 
opponent. 

(I) Shouldering, pushing, elbowing, or striking the ball over 
the shoulders of another player. 

(m) Falling — unless the knees do not touch the ground. If, 
however, the fall is intentionally caused by another player, the 
foul is against the latter. 

Time. — 1. Official games shall consist of two halves with an 
intermission of ten or fifteen minutes. The time of the halves 
shall be fifteen minutes each or one of fifteen and one of twenty. 
This point must be settled before the opening of the game. 

2. In a series of match games the time of the halves must be the 
same for all the games. It shall be determined by the special 
committee or person governing the contest. 

3. Unavoidable loss of time shall be deducted from the time 
of the halves. 

4. When a player, through illness or some other cause, is 
compelled to leave the game, the loss of time shall not exceed 
five minutes unless the captains of the teams both agree to an 
extension of the time. 

5. A team is allowed fifteen minutes beyond time set for the 
game in which to appear on the field. Beyond this the referee 
may declare the game forfeited if the opponents are on the field 
and prepared to play. However, if a team gives a reasonable 



70 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

cause for the delay, and the captain of the opposing team agrees, 
the game shall proceed. 

Officials. — 1. In official games there shall be a referee, an 
umpire, a timekeeper, and a scorer. 

2. The authority of all these officials ends when the referee 
has given her final decision on the entire game. The referee shall 
check and countersign the score. 

3. The officials shall be chosen in a manner agreeable to the 
competing teams, and the mode of selection shall be decided 
upon at least one week before the time set for the game. It is 
usual that none of the officials shall be members of either team, 
competing class, or organization. 

4. The referee shall be familiar with the rules and regulations 
of the game. It shall be the specific duty of the referee to observe 
the following instructions: 

(a) She shall make herself known at the outset of the game to 
both captains and to the officials. 

(6) She shall see that all rules concerning the ball and field 
have been carried out. 

(c) She shall blow the whistle for the game to begin each half. 

(d) She shall call all fouls. 

(e) She shall decide all held balls except as specified in para- 
graph (c) "The game." 

(/) She shall call all baskets made. 

(g) She shall warn players making repeated fouls and dis- 
qualify them if the warning is not heeded ("A summary of 
fouls, " paragraph 2). 

(h) She shall check and countersign the score. 

(i) She shall carry out the general rules of the game. 

(j) She may consult the umpire if in doubt, but the authority 
of the referee is final. 

5. The umpire shall be familiar with all rules and regulations 
of the game. It shall be her specific duty to act as follows : 

(a) To throw the ball to the centers at the opening of each 
play and, if the ball is held by them, to decide ownership (para- 
graph (c) "The game"). 

(6) To call all "out balls" and decide their ownership. 

(c) To watch the game closely so that she may advise the 
referee if called into consultation. 

6. It is the duty of the scorer to keep the official score on 
an official score card or board, drawn up as indicated in the 
diagram of a sample score card. The scorer shall observe the 
following general rules: 



TEAM GAMES 



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72 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

(a) Before the game she shall obtain from the captains of 
the two teams a list of their players with the position of each 
player and also the names of their substitutes. 

(b) She shall have an accredited representative of each team 
stand by the score card to oversee the score during the game. 

(c) The record of points and fouls shall be indicated on the 
score card as they are called by the referee, the best form for 
keeping the details of the score being as shown in the sample 
score card (see accompanying diagram). 

(d) At the conclusion of each half the official score shall not 
be given out until it has been approved by the referee. 

(e) The official score may be posted by the scorer or it may 
be announced by the referee, but this point must be decided 
upon before the opening of the game. (See sample score card.) 

(/) During the game none but properly accredited persons shall 
stand within three feet of the scorer. 

7. The timekeeper shall keep the official time record during 
the game. Whenever practicable a stopwatch shall be used. 
The timekeeper shall observe the following specific rules: 

(a) She shall note the time that the game is called by the 
referee at the beginning of each half and at the appointed time 
shall blow the whistle for the conclusion of each half. 

(b) She shall notify the referee when the time allotted for the 
intermission has elapsed. 

(c) She shall take time out during the halves as notified by the 
referee. 

(d) During the game she shall have a duly accredited represen- 
tative of each team stand near to observe the keeping of the time. 

(e) She shall see that none but duly accredited persons stand 
within three feet of her during the game. 

9. Field hockey is a very enjoyable game and an excellent 
one for girls. Directions are not included here for the reason 
that the expense for equipment is so great as to put it out of reach 
of most church-school groups. Instructions are published by 
Spalding. 

10. Lawn tennis. — If the group can have the use of a court, 
it may be possible to buy four rackets and two balls and then to 
share the use of them. The net, if belonging to the group, may 
be used for volleyball, and for 

11. Hand tennis. — This is played with practically the same 
rules as lawn tennis, but the ball is served by the hand, and no 
rackets are needed. Rules for all forms of tennis are published 
in pamphlets of Spalding's athletic library and should be pur- 
chased with the other equipment. 



TEAM GAMES 73 

Needed Equipment 

All the equipment needed to play everything described in the 
preceding pages is here listed, together with possible substitutes. 
Under present conditions prices are so subject to change that 
any indication could be only approximate. It will be an easy 
matter to get an estimate from your nearest athletic-goods store: 

One regulation leather basketball (basketball throw, end ball, 
captain ball, pin ball, pass-and-toss relay, punch ball (?), and 
dodge ball). 

One canvas-covered basketball (punch ball, dodge ball, pass- 
and-toss relay). 

Two playground balls (indoor baseball). 

One volleyball (volleyball throw, volleyball, dodge ball). 

Two indoor-baseball bats (indoor baseball) . 

Three one-pound Indian clubs (all-up race and relay). 

Two heavy Indian clubs (pin ball, indoor duck-on-the-rock). 

Two basketball baskets with supports (basketball throw, 
basketball, Newcomb, with different posts and supports). 

One balance beam or 2-by-4-inch plank 12 feet long (balance 
test, Girls' Athletic Badge). 

One tennis net (tennis, hand tennis, volleyball). 

Four tennis rackets (tennis). 

Two tennis balls (tennis, hand tennis). 

One volleyball net if no tennis net (volleyball). 

One rope 30 or 40 feet, about 1 inch (volleyball, tug of war, 
Newcomb). 

Ten feet per person of J^-inch rope (clothesline) for skipping 
ropes (rope skipping). 

Receptacles for potato race may be grocery boxes or tin cans 
beaten smooth around the top so there will be no danger of cut 
hands. 

Chalk or whiting for marking grass, ground, or floor. 

Worsted for tape for finish line. 

Hair ribbons or handkerchiefs may be used to mark the first 
runner in relays or opposing teams. 

Bean bags may be homemade. Good stout drilling, 6 by 8 
inches, filled with about half a pound of clean, small beans. 



VII 
FOLK DANCING 

There is an almost untouched treasure of joyous, graceful, 
healthful exercise for girls in those rhythmic games known as 
folk dances. There are also very serious dangers possible from 
misuse of these exercises. The joy and the benefit of dancing 
come from its expression of emotion and the exhilaration of 
using all the resources of the body — gesture, drama, rhythm — 
with freedom and power. "The body is the earliest and still 
the most instinctive instrument of expression, the free command 
of which gives the deepest artistic satisfaction, also in its highest 
degree the sort of joy in mastery that a musician gets from hand- 
ling his bow." (Joseph Lee.) 

The dangers are found in undesirable emotions finding expres- 
sion, in temptation to personal display, and in a consequent arti- 
ficiality instead of simplicity and sincerity in the motions of 
the body. "A dance to be useful must not indulge undesirable 
emotions; it must be vigorous and interesting but not exciting or 
exhausting. It must give sufficient exercise to many and must 
endanger none" (Dr. Crampton). 

Folk dancing was introduced into the elementary and high 
schools of New York City just in time to meet the influence of 
the wave of violent and grotesque social dancing which swept 
over this country a few years ago. The director of the Girls' 
Branch said frankly at that time that it was necessary to do her 
"utmost to counteract the outside influences which threaten to 
rob folk dancing of its real charm and value." 

The Board of Education of Greater New York therefore took 
special action for "proper safeguards for the furtherance of this 
work." 1 The principles followed in thus safeguarding this form 
of play are stated in the last edition of the Handbook of the 
GirW Branch of the Public-Schools Athletic League: It "does 
not by any means advocate the indiscriminate use of folk dancing. 

1 "By-Laws and Rulings of the Board of Education of Greater New York 
Relative to Athletics, Folk Dancing, Field Days, Entertainments, Etc.," April 
13, 1910. 

74 



FOLK DANCING 75 

It is a great force for good which may easily be turned in an 
undesirable direction unless safeguarded by a wise policy and 
preserved as an actual form of play for the benefit of the girls 
themselves and not for the pleasure of onlookers. . . . Nothing is 
more interesting or beautiful than children dancing or playing, 
and it is easy for those responsible for these activities to permit 
them to be used for exhibition purposes. This defeats the very 
end we are striving to attain in the use of dancing, for it becomes 
a means of self-exploitation and ceases to be for play's sake. 
The 'showing-off spirit is engendered, and the pleasure taken in 
it by the girls becomes that of appeal to the onlookers rather 
than that of the dance itself. Under no circumstances should 
admission be charged, or the general public attend. The children 
should not be given the idea that their dancing has commercial 
value. 

"No special costumes should be used other than the mere 
addition to the ordinary dress of an inexpensive hair ribbon or 
sash." Costumes develop a spirit of display, and the expense is 
undesirable. "Only simple folk dances and singing games 
should be used. No dances should be done by groups of less 
than ten girls. The Girls' Branch is absolutely opposed to the 
use of aesthetic and so-called 'artistic' dances (for schoolgirls) or 
any dancing that is done at others instead of with each other." 

Should one attempt to use a form of activity with such inherent 
dangers? Not, at least, without careful weighing of the evidence. 
What are its advantages? And are they as well or better ob- 
tained by other means? These questions may be answered 
together. 

As exercise the forms of rhythmic motion included under the 
general term "dancing" are the most instinctive, the most uni- 
versal, and the most enjoyed by girls. The motions stimulate 
every organ of the body to normal action and, in themselves and 
unless carried to excess, subject the body to no abnormal strains. 
Formal gymnastics are stiff and conventional and yield their 
maximum of benefit to girls only in proportion as they approach 
the harmonious balance and rhythm of dances. 

As release of spirit dancing is the spontaneous method of ex- 
pressing emotion. Watch a girl read the notification of her 
appointment to a coveted position or of receiving a prize for a 
song or a poster or an essay. Unless she is under the restraint 



76 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

of propriety and the public, you will promptly see her in a mad 
dance of joy and probably be made to participate, willy-nilly, 
if you are the nearest seizable person. The spirit of the little 
child chasing butterflies in the sunshine, the feeling of gratitude 
for food and clothing through the labor of sowing and reaping 
and weaving, all are both expressed and recalled in times of 
drudgery through motions that dramatize them and are filled 
with their joy. With no other apparatus than her own free body 
a girl can be released from factory or schoolroom walls and enter 
into the happy abandon of a childish merry-go-round or the 
simple satisfaction of "I see you!" It is a social release too, for 
the folk dance was always the result of feeling shared by the people 
in the simple community life. It makes something that is beau- 
tiful through cooperation. 

As a former of good taste it is the testimony of those teachers 
who have had much experience that if a girl learns folk dancing 
before she has begun to care for social dancing she remains a 
wholesome young girl through the whole "junior-high" period — 
that is, until she is sixteen or seventeen — , entering heartily and 
happily into the more complicated and more beautiful folk dances. 
The girls who have not had their taste thus formed are far more 
apt to become sophisticated and blase young ladies at thirteen 
and fourteen. There seems to be no other activity which quite 
takes this preventive place among the girls surrounded by a 
vulgarizing environment. 

The dangers in folk dancing, as we have seen, come from 
expressing wrong emotions and from display. There are folk 
dances that are a dramatization of sex attraction, of the flight and 
pursuit and lure of courtship, and of the excitement of passion. 
There are others with a rhythm of such force and kind that the 
instinctive response is a paralysis of all inhibitions, a letting go of 
oneself to any tendency to impish pranks or self-display which 
is fatal to modesty and self-control. Folk dancing should never 
be sponsored by any organization that will not take the trouble to keep 
up a continuous oversight of all the teaching and practice of its 
groups and select with rigid care the dances used. 

The merry, innocently playful emotions, the tender and digni- 
fied emotions, and the feeling for beauty have been crystallized 
in beautiful forms of dances by many peoples. When a group of 
girls are intent on giving expression to these forms and emotions, 



FOLK DANCING 77 

there are few sights which give greater pleasure to onlookers. 
Right here arises the danger that the girls, instead of directing 
attention away from themselves to the story or motive of their 
motions, will become conscious of the admiration of these on- 
lookers for the suppleness, grace, and beauty of their own bodies. 
Nothing can be more harmful than that. So folk dancing 
should never be permitted by any organization that cannot 
control the times and places in which the girls dance. Girls are 
not thus self-conscious before their own parents, and a dance 
may be made part of an afternoon party to which the girls invite 
their mothers. But then it would be far better to have the 
mothers join in the dance and thus share the pleasure of self- 
expression rather than to be passive spectators. 

On a f$te day, on a sufficiently large scale that the individual 
dancers are lost sight of, the objections to spectators do not hold. 
A girls' field day would be incomplete without a Maypole dance, 
and some of the others that the girls like best would be a natural 
part of their play together on a gala day. The public gets the 
joy of scores or hundreds of happy girls playing in harmonious 
rhythm without any danger that any girl or any group of them 
will be conscious of personal conquests or admiration. 

There is one other matter to be well guarded: No one should 
undertake to lead girls in folk dancing who loses the spirit of 
joyous play in devotion to perfect rendition of the form of the 
folk dance. It must never be a drill, but happiness that is happier 
because it is harmonious and expressed together. 

The following folk danees are wholly suitable for use by girls 
in their teens. Full directions, with music and explanatory 
diagrams of all the figures, are found in Folk Dances and Singing 
Games, by Elizabeth Burchenal (parts I and II, $1.50 each, 
published by Schirmer). Miss Burchenal is the one who worked 
the plan in the New York public schools through to success. 
The books also describe many singing games for younger girls and 
little children, with an admirable introduction on how to inspire 
the right spirit in their use: 

Norwegian Mountain March. Gustaf's Skoal. 

Shoemakers' Dance. Reap the Flax. 

Maypole Dance. Our Little Girls. 

Merry-go-round (Carrousel) Seven Pretty Girls. 

Bleeking. To-Day's the First of May. 

I See You. Crested Hen. 



78 HEALTH AND RECREATION FOR GIRLS 

Other suitable folk dances are found in Social Games and Group 
Dances, by J. C. Elsom and Blanche M. Trilling ($1.75; Lippin- 
cott), and Indian Games and Dances, by Alice C. Fletcher (Birch- 
ard, Boston). The latter is excellent for recreation in camp. 



INDEX 
(References are to pages.) 
Abdominal contractions, exercises, 26, 27. 
Accidents, preparedness for, 15. 
Acknowledgments of copyright permission and original material, 

7,8,43,51,52,56,62,63. 
All-up Indian-club race, 36, 37. 
Archery, 32, 33. 
Arm-stretching exercises, 18, 22. 
Athletic-badge test: requirements, 34, 35; rules for all-up race, 

36; rules for balancing test, 42; rules for basketball throw* 

41; rules for potato race, 38; rules for running and catching, 

42; rules for volleyball serving, 42. 

Balance beam, standard dimensions for, 42. 

Balancing test, 42. 

Baseball: indoor, 61; rules for throw, 41. 

Basketball: cautions regarding, 62; goal throwing, rules to be 

used, 62. 
Breathing exercises, 18, 21, 22. 

Camping: suggestions for, 13-15; discipline, 14; equipment, 
13; food, 13; guests, 14; program, 14; sanitation, 12, 14; site, 
13. 

Captain ball, rules for, 53. 

Circle relay, rules for, 39. 

Constipation, exercises for correcting, 25-28* 

Cooking out of doors, 13-15. 

Croquet, value of, 32, 33. 

Deep-breathing exercises, 17, 18, 21. 
Dish-washing in camp, 14. 
Dodge ball, rules for, 46. 
Doubling-over exercises, 26. 
Dr. Mosher's exercise, 30-31. 
Duck on a rock, rules for, 47. 

79 



80 INDEX 

Eating, on hikes, 12. 

East and west, rules for, 49. 

End ball, rules for, 51. 

Equipment: for camping, 13; for hiking, 11; for crack and team 

games, 73. 
Exercises: for breathing, 18-20, 22; for circulation, 19-21; for 

constipation, 25-28; corrective, 22-31; foot-strengthening, 23- 

25; for menstrual disorders, 29-31; for posture, 18-20, 22, 23; 

setting-up, 18-22; shoulder-straightening, 22, 23. 

Feet: blisters on, 10; care of in hiking, 10; corrective exercises 

for, 23-25. 
Field day: directions for girls', 43; folk dances for, 77. 
Field hockey, value of, 72. 

Fires: directions for, 15; for picnics, 12; safeguarding, 12. 
Folk dancing: history and discussion, 74-77; list of appropriate 

dances, 77. 
Foot circling, 23. 
Foot gripping, 25. 
Foot raising, 24. 
Foot rolling outward, 24. 

Girls' Branch of the Public-Schools Athletic League: acknowl- 
edgments to, 8, 31, 62; all-round athletic medal requirements, 
35, 36; regulations of folk dancing, 174ff.; rules for all-up race, 
37; rules for baseball throw, 41; rules for basketball throw, 
41; rules for potato relay, 38. 

Golf, value of, 32, 33. 

Hand-kneeling exercises, 30. 

Heel-raising exercise, 20. 

Hikes: carrying equipment, 11; clothing for, 9, 10; eating, 12; 

games and pastimes for, 11, 12; objects for, 9; resting during, 

12; rules for, 9, 11-12. 
Hurdle relay, rules for, 40. 

Indoor baseball, rules for, 61. 

Japanese tag, rules for, 45. 

Knee-bending: exercise, 20; on back, 27-28. 
Knee-chest: position, 29; exercise on back, 30. 

Last couple out, rules for, 48. 



INDEX 81 

Menstrual disorders: causes of, 29; exercises to correct, 29-31; 
standard of health, 17. 

Newcomb, rules for, 62. 

Night in the open, a: equipment, 13; place for, 13. 

Pass-and-toss relay, rules for, 46. 
Pass-ball relay, rules for, 40. 
Pin ball, rules for, 62. 
Place-running exercise, 21. 

Playground and Recreation Association of America: acknowl- 
edgments to, 8, 31; standards, tests, and awards, 31, 34, 35. 
Playground games, 44-49. 
Potato race, rules for, 38, 39. 
Prisoner's base, rules for, 48. 
Public-Schools Athletic League. See Girls' Branch. 
Punch ball, rules for, 56. 

Quoits, use of, 32, 33. 

Relay races: general instructions for, 36; all-up, 36, 37; circle, 

39; hurdle, 40; pass-ball, 40; potato, 38; shuttle, 39. 
Resting when hiking, 12. 
Rope skipping, discussion of, 33. 
Run, sheep, run, rules for, 45. 
Running and catching, rules for, 42. 

Safeguards: to camp fires, 12; to folk dancing, 74; to program, 

7; to rope skipping, 33; to swimming, 15, 32. 
Sanitation, in camp, 14. 
Semaphore signaling, value of, 33. 
Shoes, for hiking, 10. 
Shoulder-straightening exercise, 23. 
Shuttle relay, rules for, 39. 
Sleep, amount required, 17. 
Sports: list for individual proficiency, 32; optional requirements 

for medal, 36; track and field, 34 ff. 
Standards: adaptable to classes without trained leader, 31, 

34, 35; of individual fitness, 16-18, 34; measuring progress 

toward, 31; of organizations, 31, 34, 35; of posture, 16-17; of 

shoes, 10. 
Swimming: requirements for medal, 30; safeguarding, 15, 32. 



82 INDEX 

Team games: directions for, 50-72; equipment for, 73; require- 
ment for medal, 36. 
Tennis: lawn, 72; hand, 72. 
Thirst, relieving, 12. 
Three deep, rules for, 44. 
Tree-swaying exercise, 20. 
Triple change, rules for, 44. 
Trunk-circling exercise, 26. 
Tug of war, rules for, 44. 

Volleyball: rules for, 59; serving, medal requirement, 42. 

Walking: purpose in, 9; requirement for medal, 35. 
Watch your step, rules for, 47. 
Wind-mill exercise, 19. 



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